Ethio-Mexico Relation
Ethiopia–Mexico relations
Ethiopia was the only nation in Africa to have never been colonized by a European country. However,
in 1935, Italian troops invaded Ethiopia. This was known as the Second
Italo-Ethiopian War. At the League of
Nations, Mexico was one of only five
member-states to condemn the Italian invasion and occupation of Ethiopia.
Because of this, Ethiopia kept its seat in the assembly, and it remained a
member. A few years after World War II, diplomatic relations between Ethiopia and Mexico were
established in 1949. In 1954, Emperor Haile
Selassie became the first-ever African
head of state to pay an official visit to Mexico.
To commemorate Mexico's assistance to Ethiopia during its occupation by
Italy; Ethiopia named a center square in Addis Ababa "Mexico Square". In 2010, the Mexican government donated a replica of
an Olmec
colossal head to Ethiopia where it was
placed in Mexico Square. In September 2015, the Ethiopian capital inaugurated
it's a Light Rail system and has a "Mexico Station". On the 22nd of
June 1954, a traffic circle in Mexico City was named "Plaza
Etiopía", under which in August 1980, a metro station in Mexico City was
built and named Metro
Ethiopia.
In July 2010, Prime Minister Meles Zenawi arrived in Cancun to attend the United Nations Climate Change Conference. In June 2012, Prime Minister Zenawi again visited Mexico to
participate in the G-20 summit held in Los Cabos. In 2019, both nations marked 70 years since the
establishment of diplomatic relations. In 2019, Ethiopian
Airlines launched cargo services
between both nations.
High-level visits from Ethiopia to Mexico
Ø Emperor Haile
Selassie (1954)
Ø Prime Minister Meles Zenawi attending a G-20 summit in Los Cabos, Mexico along
with host, President Felipe
Calderón in 2012.
High-level visits from Mexico to Ethiopia
Ø Foreign Minister Patricia
Espinosa (2010)
Ø Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs, Julián Ventura (2019)
Bilateral agreements
Ethiopia and Mexico have signed the following bilateral agreements:
Agreement to Establish Consultations on Mutual Interests (2006) and an
Agreement on the Elimination of Visa Requirements for Diplomatic Passport
Holders (2006).
Trade relations
In 2018, two-way trade between Ethiopia and Mexico amounted to US$8.6
million. Mexico's main exports to Ethiopia include landing gears and
electronic equipment. Ethiopia's main exports to Mexico include sesame seeds
and industrial equipment to make shoes.