Premier Wen Jiabao said Monday that China will provide an additional 353.2 million yuan ($55.28 million) in emergency food aid to Ethiopia and other drought-hit African countries.

Wen made the remarks while holding talks with visiting Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi in Beijing Monday afternoon.

"China will work with African states to tackle difficulties, strengthen cooperation and realize common development," Wen said at the Great Hall of the People.

Starting last year, the Horn of Africa, which refers to the region consisting of the countries of Somalia, Djibouti, Eritrea and Ethiopia, has been devastated by a severe drought.

China already announced plans to provide 90 million yuan ($14 million) worth of emergency food assistance to countries in the Horn of Africa in late July.

Wen pledged support to Ethiopia's economic development plan, saying China will enhance cooperation in electricity and transportation, expand industrial investment and technology transfer, and help Ethiopia to build an efficient agricultural sector.

Wen also urged the international community to "focus on settling the imbalance between the North and South as a starting point and target for coping with global economic imbalance."

China will push for the Group of 20 to establish a sound environment for Africa's stability and development, he said.

Meles said he appreciates China's emergency aid, saying his country will enhance cooperation with China in trade, investment and technology.

On the same day, Meles also met with Chinese top legislator Wu Bangguo.

Wu, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, China's top legislative body, hailed the achievements of China-Ethiopia relations since the establishment of diplomatic ties, citing enhanced political trust, win-win economic cooperation and cultural exchanges, as well as close coordination in global and regional issues.

No matter how the international situation changes, China and Ethiopia will remain committed to developing their bilateral relations to a higher level, Wu noted.

He also called on further promoting the exchanges and cooperation between the two parliaments, adding that the NPC will work with the Ethiopian federal parliament to step up cooperation between the various political parties and governmental bodies at local levels with an aim to inject new vitality into China-Ethiopia relations.

Meles, who visited China in 1995, 2004 and 2006, attended the opening ceremony of the 26th Summer Universiade in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, Friday evening.

(Xinhua News Agency August 15, 2011)