According to Angop, the head of state welcomed his Sao Tome counterpart when he arrived at the palace. The anthems of both countries were also heard, and afterwards Carlos Manuel Vila Nova greeted the members of the Government who were at the entrance to the Presidential Palace.
Speaking to the press, as part of the private meeting with his Sao Tome counterpart, João Lourenço informed that the two countries need to "correct" the 15 years without holding a bilateral joint commission between them, having announced that Angola and Sao Tome and Príncipe will meet at the end of the month, on the 29th and 30th of May, in São Tomé and Príncipe.
"We were meeting to address important points of cooperation between our two countries and the main conclusion we reached is that we need to correct something that is wrong, which is the fact that our countries have been without meeting the bilateral joint commission for 15 years", said.
"At this meeting in São Tomé, we will address all issues that have to do with cooperation between the two countries, focusing on the areas of defence, fisheries, sea, air transport, maritime transport, health and others of interest to both countries," he added.
Both presidents were asked by the Lusa agency about whether the reinforcement of cooperation between the two countries includes any financial support and whether the issue of São Tomé and Príncipe's debt to Angola was addressed, and João Lourenço said that "all these issues, in principle, will be discussed in depth during the bilateral joint commission, which will take place at the end of this month".
According to João Lourenço, Angola will gain from the reinforcement of cooperation "what the parties identify as useful, as being in the interest of Angola and in the interest of São Tomé and Príncipe".
The President also stressed that Carlos Vila Nova's visit to Angola "will contribute to changing this state of affairs", that is, 15 years without a meeting at the level of the mixed commission "which is not good at all".
Carlos Vila Nova said that at the meeting the issues discussed on relations between the two countries were consensual.
"This is a clear manifesto of what the relations between the Republic of Angola and the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe are and have been. It is nothing new if I say that it goes beyond the institutional framework of cooperation, it has no limits, and it reaches other reasons, other reasons, they are historical, cultural, linguistic, of deep brotherhood", said the São Tomé president.
According to Carlos Vila Nova, important facts in the historical path between the two countries strengthen the reformulation to the new times for the good of both countries and the population.
"I reiterate my feeling of gratitude and I also express here the pure expression that I am the bearer of the feeling of friendship that the people of São Tomé and Príncipe have for their brother in Angola", he underlined.
Carlos Vila Nova also said that the increase in relations between the two countries "has to do with improving the living conditions of the populations", which "both in Angola, in the person of the rulers headed by President João Lourenço, and in São Tomé and Príncipe alike" there are contributions from both parties.
"No one in their lives is prepared just to receive, receives and also gives, and in this specific case we are sure that after this visit, with the work session we had, we have a way to go so that the existing conditions are in fact improved. better for us to do this exercise", he said.
"To bring improvements, where São Tomé can contribute to Angola being present and, I have no doubt that the same will happen with Angola, which has always accompanied us. Of this we have no doubt or fear to say and today I am even more certain that this journey is strengthened and we will do it for the good of both countries and both peoples", he added.
It should be noted that the president of São Tomé and Príncipe – in Angola since Sunday for a three-day visit – also visited the Dr. Antonio Agostinho Neto.
In addition, his visit also includes a session at the National Assembly, during which he is scheduled to speak, and a visit to Dr. Antonio Agostinho Neto. For Tuesday, a trip to the province of Namibe is planned, where he will visit the Academy of Fisheries and Marine Sciences.
On Wednesday, the program provides for a new meeting between the two heads of state, and the Sao Tome president leaves Angola in the middle of the morning.
