Scott No: -
Serial number: 2020-5
Values in set: 2
Date of issue: November 24, 2020
Denomination: 240 fen
Designer: Ma Lihang
Size of stamps: 50 * 30 mm
Perforation: 13
Sheet composition: 12
Sheet Size: 180 * 190 mm
Printing process: Photogravure
Printing House: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing Works

To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the People's Republic of China and the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, China Post scheduled the issuance of a set of 2 commemorative stamps themed "The 50th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between China and Ethiopia" on November 24, 2020 (jointly issued with Ethiopia). The two stamps are respectively titled "Beijing Olympic Forest Park" and "Addis Ababa Sheger Park", with a total face value of 2.40 yuan for the whole set and a planned circulation of 7.2 million sets.

China and Ethiopia established diplomatic relations on November 24, 1970. The two countries established a strategic partnership in 2013 and upgraded it to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership in 2017. Over the past 50 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, the political mutual trust between the two countries has been continuously strengthened, and cooperation in various fields such as economy, culture, education, and medical and health care has been deepened with fruitful results.

The designs of this set of stamps are based on photographic works, artistically presenting the distinct features of the two parks from the two countries.

The first stamp, "Beijing Olympic Forest Park", adopts gold and blue as the main colors, highlighting the park's characteristic scenery of "forests dyed in layers of color and emerald green interspersed with golden hues" in the golden autumn. Beijing and Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, are sister cities. Located at the northern end of the central axis running north-south through Beijing, Beijing Olympic Forest Park covers an area equivalent to 10 Beihai Parks. Known as the "back garden" of the Beijing Olympic Games, it has now become a large outdoor oxygen bar for Beijing citizens, attracting numerous sports enthusiasts for fitness activities on weekends.

The second stamp, "Addis Ababa Sheger Park", uses green and blue as the main colors, showcasing the fresh and vibrant scene of the Friendship Square in Sheger Park. Built with assistance from China, the Friendship Square in Sheger Park is an important part of the green development project along the banks of Addis Ababa. The square features a relief wall carved with Ethiopia's most representative elements, including coffee trees, calla lilies, plateaus, mountain peaks, and musical instruments. This public leisure venue is worthy of Addis Ababa's reputation and is a source of pride for all Ethiopians.

Designed by Ma Lihang, this set of stamps was printed by Beijing Stamp Printing House using the photogravure technique.