ADDIS ABABA, Nov. 27 (Xinhua) -- Ethiopian and Chinese businesses on Tuesday expressed high hopes that an Africa-China business forum scheduled to be held in Ethiopia from Dec. 3 to 5 would further deepen ties between Chinese and African businesses.

Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa will host the high-level forum next week as some 41 Chinese companies are expected to participate, aspiring to create business partnerships with their Ethiopian and African counterparts.

Aynalem Abayneh, Board member of the Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Association (ECCSA), said on Tuesday that the forum focuses on deepening the comprehensive partnership of Ethiopia and China so as to encourage the operation of industry and commerce of the two countries.

Chinese companies that are engaged in 29 different sectors will take part at the high-level forum, which will also host various other side events, including the China-Ethiopia industrial capacity cooperation forum, investment promotion conference, visit to some of Ethiopia's industrial parks, as well as business to business meeting sessions among Chinese and Ethiopian as well as other African business people, according to the organizers.

China International Exhibition Center (CIEC) Deputy Manager Liu Jian said that the forum, sponsored by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade in partnership with the China-Africa Development Fund and Ethiopia's ECCSA, will serve as a platform in creating linkage among African and Chinese business people.