Addis Ababa, July 22, 2025 (FMC) — The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia marked 75 years of diplomatic relations with a commemorative event hosted by the Venezuelan Embassy in Addis Ababa on Monday.
The ceremony underscored the enduring partnership between the two nations since the formal establishment of ties on July 20, 1950.
The anniversary celebration brought together senior Ethiopian government officials, including Ambassador Mulie Tarekegn, Deputy Director for Europe and the Americas at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as members of the diplomatic corps, representatives of the Addis Ababa Chamber of Commerce, and guests from African, Latin American, and Caribbean nations.
In his keynote address, Ambassador of Venezuela to Ethiopia, Eddy José Córdoba, reflected on the historical and strategic significance of the long-standing relationship.
Conveying greetings from Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro Moros and Foreign Minister Yván Gil Pinto, he emphasized that the 75th anniversary marks not only a milestone of history but also an opportunity for deepening strategic, multisectoral cooperation.
“From a historical perspective, I must highlight the experience gained through the ideas of the Liberator Simón Bolívar, promoting and building free and sovereign societies since the 19th century,” the Ambassador said.
He recalled that Venezuela’s diplomatic agreement with Ethiopia was its first with an African country, laying a foundation for “constructive and respectful future relations.”
The Ambassador highlighted Venezuela’s role in supporting African decolonization efforts and stressed that the two countries have maintained consistent cooperation in multilateral forums, even amid external challenges.
He also pointed to symbolic moments in the bilateral relationship, including Venezuela’s conferral of the “Collar Orden Libertador Simón Bolívar”—its highest national decoration—on Emperor Haile Selassie I in 1956, a medal now preserved at the National Palace Museum in Ethiopia.
Looking to the future, Ambassador Córdoba announced intentions to boost cultural and educational exchange, proposing the introduction of the globally acclaimed Simón Bolívar System of Children’s and Youth Orchestras and Choirs to Ethiopia.
“This anniversary year will undoubtedly be even more productive and creative in the context of our cultures,” he noted. “We continue working toward high-level meetings between both countries,” adding that institutional cooperation and professional training remain essential to meet the demands of science, technology, and sustainable development.
The ceremony concluded with expressions of solidarity, unity, and mutual respect—hallmarks of a relationship that both governments say they are determined to strengthen in the years ahead.