Angolan minister of Foreign Affairs Tete António Tuesday spoke of the need for the Angolan and Portuguese governments to outline a new framework of strategic priorities to boost the strengthening of business and institutional relations.

Speaking at the 3rd Session of the Angolan-Portuguese Bilateral Intergovernmental Joint Commission, the minister said that it was necessary to expand the areas of cooperation, raise the level and institutional framework for the increase of Angolan investments in Portugal and vice versa.

He hoped that the working relationship between the parties will allow to set up concrete goals to be achieved, in line with the desired new dynamic of cooperation.

The Angolan top diplomat called for the need of the two countries to work towards strengthening bilateral and multilateral relations, whether in the political-diplomatic sphere or in the economic, financial and cultural sphere.

According to the minister, in this III Session of the Joint Intergovernmental Commission, the parties are called to work to identify new areas of cooperation of mutually advantageous interest.

Tete António said he was aware that the establishment of Agreements in specific domains would facilitate, in general, the multifaceted cooperation between Angola and Portugal.

The official, who considered the relations between the two countries to be excellent and promising, hoped that the objectives outlined in the different domains between the two governments would be converted into concrete and satisfactory results in favour of the two peoples and countries.

He recalled, on the other hand, that the Angolan Government is engaged in the search for solutions to regional and international problems, as well as in the resolution of conflicts in Africa and beyond.

Tete António recognised that African leaders have made efforts and taken courageous measures to promote the social and economic progress of their populations through investments in their institutions and human capital.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Portugal, João Gomes Cravinho, said that in the last five years, since 2018, 50 legal instruments have been signed, “which shows the intensity of the relationship between the two countries and others are negotiating”.

He stressed that the relationship between the two countries is very deep and promising, as it contains many possibilities for growth and innovation.

“We have interesting economic developments on both sides, so we are carefully following the framework of Angolan public finances and on our side we also have very positive news about the evolution of the Portuguese economy”, stressed the Portuguese diplomat.

António Costa in the country in June

João Gomes Cravinho considered that the framework is particularly conducive to preparing the visit of Prime Minister António Costa to Angola, scheduled for June this year.

He believes that the visit will mark a particularly significant moment in the relationship between the two countries. “A relationship that is fraternal and allows you to think of many new possibilities”.

On the other hand, the Portuguese top diplomat noted that the two countries are very united in the joint effort to contribute to peace and progress in a difficult international market due to difficulties and tensions in Africa and Europe.

“It is always extremely useful and opportune to listen to Angolan ideas and hear about Angolan contributions to appease conflicts that occur in this continent and naturally we are all affected (…)”, he expressed.

He said that it is precisely in this context of international tensions and difficulties “that it makes sense to bet on the safe values that are found precisely in our closest friendships. Hence we especially value this Joint Intergovernmental Commission and the visit of Prime Minister António Costa to Angola”.

Source: Angola Press News Agency (APNA)