Addis Ababa University (AAU), Institute of Educational Research (IER) virtually signed a Memorandum of Understanding with CATTI International to collaborate on global test administrationat AAU President’s Office on the 8^th of March 2021.

The two parties have agreed to conduct cooperation jointly in administration of Chinese Accreditation Test for Translators and Interpreters, the language combination being Chinese-English. The test (CATTI) administration mandate is given to the Testing Center of AAU under IER in collaboration with CATTI International.

The purpose of this agreement is to serve for general-level translators and interpreters, those who are or will be engaged in businesses like tourism, trade and investment, exchange and cooperation, community service; legal, catering, financial, public and other related services.

According to the discussion prior to signing theagreement, it was stated that Ethiopia and China have longstanding relationships liaisened with mutual state visits of government higher officials which laid foundations for comprehensive and prestigious cooperative partnership between the two countries since 1963, mainly in the last 30 years.

As stated by Professor Tassew Weldehanna, President of the AAU, Ethiopia’s construction and industrial sectors are booming due to the Chinese partnership with Ethiopia and Ethiopians are very happy for that. They are collaborating economically to make their cooperation strong and sustainable; needs are also escalating on cultural, academic and other areas.

AAU has opened a Confucius Chinese institute in its main campus and it has an Amharic language department at the Chinese foreign language university in Beijing. Today, it is creating this link with CATTI International based on Chinese Test and Interpretation for the academic and cultural exchange to enhance their collaboration.

AAU is very happy to be one among the 55 countries in the world in providing this global test being as a hub in connecting the whole continent of Africa and China together. This agreement helps to strengthen and sustain all the relationships that the two countries had in the past and will facilitate the exchange of culture, academic, staff and student between their universities. And AAU is very committed to implement this issue as per the agreement.

As mentioned on the side of CATTI International, the two countries have achieved fruitful outcomes of cooperation on politics, economy, culture and tourism. After the opening of Covid-19 pandemic, China and Ethiopia stand united to work together which is an example of China-Africa solidarity in fighting the epidemic.

CATTI International is connected itself into internationally addressing China Accreditation Test for Translators and Interpreters. It launched a test last year which made with a view of pilot test. It has held an online test in 55 countries worldwide including Ethiopia. This is building a bridge of cultural exchanges between China and other countries.  It holds its first official examination globally this year.

They see AAU serves at the most time honor and a well known university with the largest scale in Ethiopia. They believe that this cooperation will promote the development of CATTI International and Africa continent as a whole. During this cooperation, they have confirmed that the framework of cooperation and discussion of the details will happen in a very short time.

They finally invited AAU administration and colleagues to visit the Great Mall in Beijing. They will also one day, visit the National Museum of Ethiopia found in the capital Addis Ababa to see the famous Lucy fossil which witnessed Eastern Africa is the area where the first human being emerged.

As stated in Articles 5 & 6 of the MoU, the agreement shall remain in place for a period of two (2) years from the date of execution and may be extended (amended) by the mutual consent of the two parties with the understanding that either party giving a written notice to the other party may also terminate it.

CATTI International is an enterprise legal person duly organized, registered, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the People’s Republic of China to administer test centers overseas and promote international recognition of Chinese Accreditation Test for Translators and Interpreters.

By: Abraham Girmay

Photo: Andualem Aseffa