“The opening of the Angolan embassy will allow for the leveraging of multifaceted cooperation with the regular promotion of high-level visits, and others, contributing to more active political and diplomatic cooperation between our two countries,” stated the Secretary of State for Administration, Finance and Heritage of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Angola, Osvaldo dos Santos Varela.
The governor, who was speaking at the embassy's inauguration ceremony, representing the head of diplomacy, Téte António, also highlighted that the opening of the embassy will make it possible to identify priority areas of economic cooperation and promote the signing of agreements and investment in the economies of both countries.
In his speech, the Secretary of State stated that President João Lourenço's visit to East Timor will take place “soon”, after having been postponed in March due to scheduling constraints.
Timorese Foreign Minister Bendito Freitas said the Angolan embassy is a “living and dynamic symbol of friendship and solidarity” between the two countries and a “decisive step” towards deepening bilateral relations and exploring new areas of cooperation, including education, health, agriculture, energy and trade.
Bendito Freitas also recalled that Timor-Leste opened the embassy in Luanda in June last year, during the visit of Timorese President José Ramos-Horta to Angola, during which three agreements were signed, including one for diplomatic training.
The ceremony, which was attended by several members of the government and the diplomatic corps accredited in Dili, was also attended by the Timorese head of state, who recalled that the African continent is one of the “largest economic blocs in the world” of free trade, with a young population, and that it has been “greatly coveted” and “mistreated” over the centuries.
The Angolan embassy in East Timor is headed by José Andrade de Lemos, who handed over his credentials in May last year, becoming the first Angolan ambassador to reside in East Timor, but also the first from the African continent, including from Portuguese-speaking African Countries (PALOP).
