Ethiopia's prime minister stated that the increase in trade and investment from China and India, along with a more tolerant attitude from traditional partners, has positively impacted Africa's development climate. The rise in China-Africa trade from $364 million in 1978 to $40 billion in 2005, and India-Africa trade from $613 million to $11 billion during the same period, has contributed to this shift. The influx of money and no-strings-attached trade and aid policies of China and India have also influenced Western donors to ease restrictions on funding for Africa. Meles noted a noticeable shift in the attitudes of traditional development partners, as well as a growing acceptance of alternative paths to development in Africa. He highlighted the increasing interest and investment from India and China, which have provided new sources of investment and technology for Africa, leading to significant economic growth. Despite this growth, trade among African nations remains low, making up only a small fraction of total trade on the continent according to the African Union. Meles addressed development issues such as increasing food and energy prices and the impact of climate change on Africa's economies at an African Union-UN Economic Commission for Africa conference. He mentioned that China and India's increasing demand for food and resources had both positive and negative effects on Africa, leading to a rise in commodity prices and potential risks for African economies. The African Union and United Nations released a statement on Monday, warning that the rising cost of staples had caused social unrest in several African countries in 2008, including Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Senegal, and Mauritania. Abdoulie Janneh, U.N. under-secretary general and executive secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa, stated that the high food and oil prices worldwide would require Africa to find a balance between its roles as a producer and consumer. Janneh emphasized the need to make sure that these essential goods remain affordable without hindering the role of prices in encouraging higher production.