A source from the Itamaraty (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Brazil) told Lusa that the meeting took place because the new Brazilian President, Lula da Silva had to cancel the scheduled meeting with the President of Angola, João Lourenço, so, as compensation, the two ministers met this Tuesday.
"At the meeting, the two foreign ministers exchanged views regarding the Strategic Partnership, signed by Brazil and Angola in 2010, and expressed their intention to hold, this semester, the seventh edition of the Brazil-Angola Joint Commission", reads the communiqué from the Itamaraty, one day after the inauguration of Mauro Viera as Minister of Foreign Affairs of Brazil and two days after the inauguration of Lula da Silva.
Mauro Vieira also congratulated his Angolan counterpart, Téte António, on the presidency of Angola at the head of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP) and renewed Brazil's support for the establishment of a new economic pillar of the Community, proposed by the Angolan Government.
Itamaraty also recalled that "by resuming the priority attributed by Brazil to Africa, the Government of President Lula renews the importance of ties with Angola, one of the largest economies on that continent and a country with which we maintain historical and cultural ties, symbolized by the presence, in Luanda, by the Guimarães Rosa Institute, and by the Centro Cultural Casa de Angola, in Bahia".
On the Angolan side, according to a note released on social networks, it is indicated that both delegations "spoke about the privileged political relations between Angola and Brazil, the geographical and cultural proximity that unite the two countries and peoples and the preparations for the next Joint Bilateral Commission".
Téte António also expressed, on behalf of the Angolan authorities, "the deepest feelings of regret for the physical passing of the greatest idol of world football Edson Arantes do Nascimento 'Pelé'", who was buried this Tuesday.
Lula da Silva took office as President of Brazil on Sunday, having participated in bilateral meetings with several heads of state, including the Portuguese, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, and also with the President of Guinea Bissau and East Timor.
