Havana - The President of the Democratic Federal Republic of Ethiopia, Mulatu Teshome Wirtu, begins an official visit to Cuba on Monday, according to the Cuban Foreign Ministry.

During his visit, the Ethiopian leader will hold talks with Cuban authorities.

Cuba and Ethiopia share historical ties of friendship, cemented during the liberation struggles of Africa.

Cuban internationalist soldiers fought alongside the Ethiopians in the 1970s.  I n addition, an expression of solidarity and collaboration with this nation of the Horn of Africa is the professional training of many of its young people on the Caribbean island.

Ethiopia, the second most populous country in Africa after Nigeria, is one of the founding members of the former Organization of African Unity (OAU) currently known as the African Union (AU).

Its capital, as well as its largest, is Addis Ababa.