Federal Minister for National Heritage and Culture Aurangzeb Khan Khichi has said that Pakistan is keen to further strengthen cultural and tourism ties with Ethiopia, in line with the vision of the Prime Minister, and will fully support initiatives aimed at enhancing people-to-people contacts between the two countries.
He expressed these views during a meeting with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ethiopia, Dr. Oumer Hussien Oba, held at the Ministry of National Heritage and Culture in Islamabad on Thursday.
The Federal Minister said that Pakistan values its relations with Ethiopia and is committed to expanding cooperation in the fields of culture and heritage. He emphasized the need to promote cultural diplomacy through exchange of delegations, cultural troupes, and joint festivals. He also suggested organizing Ethiopian Cultural Days in Pakistan and proposed reciprocal visits of cultural delegations to both countries.
Highlighting Pakistan’s cultural outreach initiatives, he noted that Pakistan has successfully hosted cultural weeks of countries including Türkiye and Tajikistan, and invited Ethiopian cultural representatives to participate in events organized at Lok Virsa, where Pakistan’s diverse regional heritage is showcased.
The Ethiopian Ambassador appreciated the warm hospitality and briefed the Minister on Ethiopia’s rich cultural heritage, including its traditional festivals, linguistic diversity, and unique calendar system. He also highlighted the importance of Ethiopian Airlines in strengthening connectivity between Pakistan, Ethiopia, and Africa, facilitating greater tourism and cultural exchange.
The Ambassador further proposed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the cultural ministries of both countries to institutionalize cooperation in culture and tourism.
The Federal Minister welcomed the proposal and assured full support for advancing cultural collaboration. He reiterated that strengthening bilateral cultural ties would help deepen mutual understanding and friendship between the peoples of Pakistan and Ethiopia.
During the meeting, Secretary National Heritage and Culture Division Asad Rehman Gillani also expressed support for enhanced engagement, stating that visits of Ethiopian cultural delegations to Pakistan would be a positive step toward closer cultural relations.
