Venezuela, Mozambique establish diplomatic ties
Venezuela said Thursday it has established diplomatic relations with Mozambique, a Portuguese-speaking southeast African country.

Venezuelan Foreign Minister Ali Rodriguez and Mozambique's UN ambassador Felipe Chirirumo signed a deal on establishing diplomatic ties between their countries on Wednesday in Caracas, Venezuelan Deputy Foreign Minister Reinaldo Bolivar said.

The move was part of Venezuela's African Agenda policy, which plans to open diplomatic relations with more African countries, he said.

"With the signing of the joint communique with Mozambique... we have now established diplomatic relations with seven more countries since March. We are forging new relationships and bringing our partners closer," Bolivar said.

Venezuela also seeks to strengthen solidarity with African people and countries, he stressed.

Mozambican Ambassador Chirirumo said: "We were already friends before the signing of this agreement, but we feel we are growing ever closer."