ADDIS ABABA, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- Face of Ethiopia, a Chinese company-sponsored fashion show, was successfully held on Sunday in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, with contestants showcasing and promoting rich cultures, heritages, traditions and tourist destinations of the East African country.
Twenty contestants competed at the final on Sunday, which was presented by the Ethiopian Ministry of Culture and Tourism in collaboration with G-Power Manufacturing PLC, a Chinese-invested Ethiopian company specialized in clean and sustainable energy solutions.
"I feel great pride. I promise to promote my country's cultures and tourism. I will make Ethiopia proud," said Ruth Tewodros, 26, after being named as "Ethiopia Tourism Ambassador" and winning a prize of 5 million birr (about 30,500 U.S. dollars), outperforming over 5,000 contestants.
Ma Ning, chief executive officer of G-Power Manufacturing PLC, said his company has a vision of promoting the tourism sector in Ethiopia and creating more opportunities for Ethiopia-China cultural and tourism exchanges.
"We see a great opportunity to build a bridge between the two countries not only through business, technology, and energy, but also through culture and tourism," Ma said.
"We want more Chinese visitors to discover Ethiopia beyond what they see online. We want African people to experience our history, our natural beauty, our food, our traditions, our music, and the warmth of our people," Ma added.
Appreciating G-Power Manufacturing PLC for promoting Ethiopia's culture and tourism through digital means and entertainment, Endegena Abebe, Ethiopia's state minister of culture and tourism, underscored the need for Ethiopia to follow suit and engage in image building and promote its rich culture through modern technologies.
Face of Ethiopia fashion show aims to build the country's image, promote its tourism, and showcase its cultural assets and rich history, Abebe said, urging the contestants to focus on community impact and humanitarian advocacy.
The East African nation, widely considered as the cradle of humankind, is home to a dozen United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization World Heritage sites, recognized globally for their unique cultural and natural significance.
The country is also one of Africa's premier destinations for conference tourism. Addis Ababa is widely considered the diplomatic hub of the continent, hosting the headquarters of the African Union and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, alongside numerous other regional and international institutions. ■
