By Addis Getachew
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia
The leaders of Ethiopia, Eritrea and Somalia signed a Joint Cooperation Agreement upon conclusion of a late night meeting on Wednesday.
The cooperation agreement was signed by Eritrean President Isaias Afeworki, Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi (Farmajo) and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.
Faramjo and Ahmed reached the Eritrean capital Asmara on Wednesday, after a visit to Beijing where they attended the Forum on China - Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).
The agreement, according to state media, would enhance economic, political, social, cultural and security cooperation among the three countries.
Relations between Eritrea and Ethiopia thawed in July after leaders of the two countries visited each other. The move was initiated by Ahmed, who took office in April.
The July 9 Asmara agreement between Ethiopia and Eritrea commits to bringing the governments and people of the two countries closer.
Eritrea seceded from Ethiopia in 1993.
From 1998 to 2000, the two countries fought a bloody war in which an estimated 70,000 people perished on both sides.
Ethiopia will reopen its embassy in Asmara on Thursday. Eritrea already opened one in Addis Ababa a month ago.
On Wednesday, an Ethiopian Cargo ship docked in the Eritrean port of Massawa for the first time in 20 years. It would set sail to China carrying 11,000 tons of Eritrean Zinc.
Anadolu Agency website contains only a portion of the news stories offered to subscribers in the AA News Broadcasting System (HAS), and in summarized form. Please contact us for subscription options.