Dr. Tedros Adhanom held discussions with his Guinean counterpart, Professor Dato Dr. Sano Koutoub Moustapha on Saturday (March 16) on the margins of the fifth annual TICAD Ministerial preparatory meeting. On the occasion, Dr. Sano expressed the Republic of Guinea's desire to forge a greater partnership with Ethiopia. He proposed that "experts from both countries work to devise a general cooperation memorandum of understanding that can eventually lead" to the establishment of a joint ministerial commission. He added that "as an emerging democracy, Guinea wants partners" to cooperate with on technical and economic matters of mutual interest. Reiterating his country's desire for technical cooperation, he praised the Ethiopian government for its achievements in the expansion of education and urged the two countries to establish greater partnerships as part of global south-south cooperation initiatives. Dr. Sano also expressed his hope that Africa's leading carrier, Ethiopian Airlines, would soon announce new routes between Conakry and Addis Ababa.

Dr. Tedros shared the Minister's desire to partner with Guinea in areas of mutual interest and explained that further inter-regional cooperation would go a long way towards fostering a united African continent. On education, Dr. Tedros highlighted that "with more than 32 universities and 20 million students at all levels of education" Ethiopia's experiences can offer the two countries a golden opportunity to cooperate. Dr. Tedros concluded the discussions by welcoming both the Minister's proposals to establish a joint ministerial commission and improve air transport links between the two countries in conjunction with Ethiopian Airlines.