PM Abiy Ahmed receives Venezuelan FM

Addis Ababa, October 31, 2023 (FBC) – Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) received Yvan Gil Pinto, the Foreign Minister of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela earlier this morning, the Office of the Prime Minister disclosed.

Recall that the Foreign Minister Yvan Gil Pinto has arrived in Addis Ababa on 30 October for working visit to Ethiopia.

On Monday, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Demeke Mekonnen held a discussion with Yvan Gil Pinto where the two sides deliberated at length on bilateral and multilateral issues of common interest.

Demeke said it is high time to deepen the historic traditional relations with Venezuela and commended Venezuela for its principled, consistent support at multilateral forums.

On his part, Foreign Minister Pinto said Venezuela is desirous of working closely on agriculture, tourism, energy, and health and invited Ethiopian Airlines to start flying to Venezuela.

Venezuela would like to offer scholarship opportunities to Ethiopian students, Minister Pinto said.

Moreover, both sides have agreed to commence the Joint Ministerial Commission between the two countries.

The formal bilateral diplomatic relations between Ethiopia and Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela was established on July 20, 1950, by the exchange of notes through the Venezuelan Embassy in Washington. In that regard, Ethiopia became the first African country to establish a formal diplomatic relations with Venezuela.