Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi on Wednesday held talks with Marjata Rasi, undersecretary of state of Finland's Foreign Ministry, on bilateral cooperation and mutual interests between the two countries.

Meles and Rasi discussed development cooperation, the current political situation in Ethiopia and issues related to the Ethio- Eritrea border dispute.

The Ethiopian prime minister briefed Rasi on the problems created following the May 15 parliamentary elections in Ethiopia and the state of things related to the border dispute between Ethiopia and Eritrea.

After their talks, Rasi told journalists the development cooperation between Ethiopia and Finland should be strengthened.

Rasi said an investment protection and expansion agreement, enabling to strengthen economic relations between the two countries, will be signed this coming Thursday.

Ethiopia is one of the eight African, Latin American and Asian countries with which Finland established development cooperation, she said.

Rasi said Finland will take over the presidency of the European Union (EU) this summer, and she pledged that during Finland's EU presidency, Ethiopia's cooperation with the EU will be pushed to a higher level.

According to an official of Ethiopia's Foreign Ministry, rural water development and environmental sanitation projects were being carried out in north Ethiopia's Amhara state since 2003 with the support of the Finnish government.

The official, who declined to be named, said Finland has been providing support in the education, teachers training and other sectors.

Rasi and her entourage is in Ethiopia for a working visit.

Source: Xinhua