Luís Montenegro was speaking at the Palácio das Necessidades, flanked by the President of the Republic, João Lourenço, who made an official visit to Portugal last week.
"I would like to thank, on behalf of the Portuguese government, the invaluable contribution that the Angolan community makes to Portugal's economic fabric," he said.
Furthermore, the Portuguese prime minister pledged the government's commitment to "continue creating preferential conditions for Angolan citizens' access to integration" into the labor market, as well as their "full integration" into the Portuguese social fabric.
The President of the Republic, João Lourenço, began an official visit to Portugal last Friday, at a time when changes are underway to the legal regime governing the entry of foreigners – which the Portuguese President submitted to the Constitutional Court on Thursday – and to the nationality law, promoted by the PSD/CDS-PP government led by Luís Montenegro, which affect citizens of the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPLP).
In his speech, the Portuguese Prime Minister revisited expressions he had used about a year ago during his official visit to Angola, emphasizing that the two countries have "an umbilical relationship," "at all times," and that they "never fail" each other.
"And this spirit is also very present in their respective communities: the Angolan community living in Portugal, which collaborates in Portugal for the economic and social development of our country, and also the Portuguese community living in Angola, which, reciprocally, fulfills the same mission," he emphasized.
Montenegro highlighted the 11 cooperation instruments signed on Friday between the two countries, in areas such as transportation, security, and the Portuguese language, which join the 12 signed a year ago during his visit to Luanda, emphasizing that these "are already in effect."
The Portuguese Prime Minister also noted the importance of this visit taking place in the year marking Angola's 50th independence and expressed his intention to continue "a shared path" with that country.
"More than partners, I'm inclined to say today that we are truly sister countries, and that makes all the difference. The fact that we have such a close, fraternal, yet solid relationship built on mutual trust means that we are not only ready for any challenge, but also always ready to take care of our future," he stated.
The Portuguese Prime Minister wished João Lourenço "the continuation of his excellent work leading Angola's destiny" and congratulated him on his achievements in the international arena, as he also assumes the presidency of the African Union.
"I have met President João Lourenço on numerous occasions. This is the third time we have met in less than a month," he emphasized.
João Lourenço arrived in Lisbon late Thursday afternoon and met with the President of the Republic of Portugal, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, on Friday morning. He then proceeded to the Portuguese Prime Minister's official residence, where he met with Luís Montenegro, followed by a working lunch.
Early Friday afternoon, the two met with Portuguese business leaders at the Palácio das Necessidades, before signing 11 bilateral cooperation instruments and making a statement to the press, with no questions from the media allowed.
