Ethiopia's prime minister stated that the increase in trade between China and India and their increased investment in Africa, along with greater tolerance from traditional partners, has had a positive impact on the continent's development. He emphasized that African countries now have more control over their own destinies. China's trade with Africa grew significantly from $364 million in 1978 to $40 billion in 2005, while India's trade rose from $613 million to $11 billion during the same period. This influx of money, along with the no-strings-attached trade and aid policies of China and India, has influenced Western donors to ease restrictions on funding in Africa. Meles noted a noticeable shift in the attitudes of traditional development partners, with a greater acceptance of alternative development approaches in Africa. He also highlighted the increased interest from India and China, which has brought new investment and technology to the continent, contributing to Africa's rapid economic growth. Despite this growth, trade among African nations remains low, making up only a small portion 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 African economies at an African Union-UN Economic Commission for Africa conference. He mentioned that China and India's growing demand for food, raw materials, and commodities had both positive and negative effects on Africa, contributing to a rise in commodity prices and posing risks to African economies. The African Union and United Nations issued a statement on Monday warning that the rising cost of staples had caused social disruptions in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Senegal, and Mauritania in 2008. Abdoulie Janneh, who serves as U.N. under-secretary general and executive secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa, expressed concern about the impact of high food and oil prices on the continent. He emphasized the need for Africa to find a balance between its role as a producer and a consumer in order to ensure that essential goods remain affordable without hindering the incentive for increased production.