"Xi Jinping pointed out in his message that since the establishment of diplomatic ties 40 years ago, China and Angola have always been sincere and friendly, worked together and understood and supported each other in matters involving their strategic interests and main concerns", reads in a communiqué from the Chinese government.
Relations between the two countries "are at a good stage of development, and bilateral cooperation in various fields has yielded fruitful results, bringing tangible benefits to the peoples of both countries," added the Chinese leader in the statement.
The president of the Asian giant "is ready to work with João Lourenço and take advantage of the 40th anniversary celebrations to create an opportunity to deepen mutual political trust, strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation, improve friendship between peoples and write a new chapter in the development of the robust strategic partnership between the two countries".
In the communiqué, the President of Angola is quoted as recalling that the establishment of bilateral ties has contributed to development and that mutually beneficial cooperation in various sectors has ensured great achievements, with satisfactory results.
Angola, he concluded, wants to strengthen friendly and cooperative relations with China, build a win-win future, and achieve common progress, prosperity and development to ensure more benefits for the citizens of both countries.
The Chinese Foreign Minister arrives this Thursday in Luanda for a short visit as part of his African itinerary and which coincides with the date of the beginning of diplomatic relations between China and Angola, 40 years ago.
During his visit to Luanda, Qin Gang will also visit the Chinese embassy and diplomatic complex in Luanda this Thursday and on Friday he will visit the Huawei technology park, a gigantic structure made up of training and innovation centres, which it cost 60 million dollars and opened last year.
On Friday, he will meet with the President, João Lourenço, and with his Angolan Foreign Affairs counterpart, Téte António, with whom he will assess bilateral relations, according to the planned programme.
Qin Gang began his tour of Africa in Ethiopia, which was also his first international visit.
As well as Ethiopia and Angola, Qin, appointed as minister of Foreign Affairs on 31 December, will travel to Gabon and Benin.
The purpose of this trip, which will last until January 16, is to deepen the strategic partnership and cooperation between China and Africa.
Qin thus fulfills a 33-year-old tradition, according to which the head of Chinese diplomacy makes his first trip of the year abroad to Africa
China has shown a growing interest in Africa, becoming the continent's biggest trading partner and is also Angola's.
Angola is the biggest debtor to Asians among African countries.
