The meeting between João Lourenço and Qin Gang, on the occasion of a visit by the Chinese minister to Luanda, focused on two axes: "a solid boost in cooperation" between the two countries and the increase in Chinese investment in Angola, according to a press release from Beijing press services.
According to the same note, the President highlighted that several of the most emblematic projects in Angola – airports, hydroelectric stations, roads and ports – are due to the support of Chinese investment and that Chinese companies have made “positive contributions” to the development of infrastructure in Angola.
According to the note distributed by the APO group on behalf of the Chinese Embassy in the United Kingdom, João Lourenço conveyed Angola's desire to "further deepen cooperation with China" and its openness to "more Chinese investment", noting the role played by the China in the reconstruction of Angola after the civil war and in the social and economic development of the country.
João Lourenço noted that “Angola and China have always shared solidarity and mutual trust”, emphasizing that the two countries pursue “similar policies and ideas” and that Angola “resolutely supports the one-China policy” and “the principle of not -interference in internal affairs”.
According to the same note, the head of Beijing's diplomacy stressed that the two countries, which have maintained diplomatic relations for 40 years, have "deepening more and more" the "mutual political trust and traditional friendship".
Assuring that "China will always support Angola in opposing external interference, in choosing independently its path of development and in the protection of national sovereignty, security and development", Qin Gang - who also met with the Angolan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Téte António – conveyed to João Lourenço Beijing’s appreciation for Luanda’s “active mediation” in the region, urging the African country to “play a greater role in regional and international affairs”.
The Chinese Foreign Minister, Qin Gang, was in Luanda between Thursday and Friday, having also been received by his Angolan counterpart, Téte António.
Angola was one of the stages of the Chinese diplomat's African itinerary and coincided with the celebration of 40 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries, which began on January 12, 1983.
During his visit to Luanda, the minister also visited Huawei's technology park, a gigantic structure made up of training and innovation centres, which cost US$60 million and was inaugurated in November last year.
Qin Gang was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs on December 31, and with this trip to the African continent, he intends 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 foreign trip of the year to Africa.
China has shown a growing interest in Africa, becoming the continent's largest trading partner, as well as being among Angola's main partners.
