"Angola defends the cooperation between the two transatlantic organisations in the fields of inclusive and sustainable economic development, human and social development, environment, natural resources management and climate change, human rights, democracy and good governance, and the fight against terrorism and organised crime," the head of state said during a virtual summit of Heads of State and Government of Africa and the Caribbean Region.
In his speech, João Lourenço admitted that the commercial exchanges between African countries and the Caribbean Community "are quite reduced", despite there is "an immense potential in the cooperation between both organizations in the fields of energy, tourism, prevention and protection of the environment".
Quoted in a note published on the government's Facebook page, the President also made it known that Angola is developing "a program of infrastructure construction to respond to the recurring problems of drought and floods in the south of the country, a global problem that plagues not only Africa but also the Caribbean islands, with the repeated cyclones, hurricanes, earthquakes and floods.
For this reason, he argued that "an exchange of experience in this area would be mutually advantageous and beneficial to both organizations."
About trade, the head of state indicated that the strengthening of this domain "may pass through an interaction between the secretariat of the Free Trade Area of the African Union, created with the objective of promoting trade between African countries and that may also be extended to the Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific Countries, on the basis of a possible free trade agreement with the countries of the Caribbean community.
He ended the speech recalling that Angola will host, from 4 to 8 October, the second Biennial of Luanda on Pan-African forum for peace and culture and noted that the event is "an excellent platform for closer historical, cultural and brotherhood relations between the African Union and the Caribbean Community.
According to the statement, the summit was held for the first time this Tuesday, and focused on "political integration between the countries of both transatlantic regions, managing the impact of the covid-19 pandemic, the Blue Economy and transport connectivity, Climate Change and Vulnerability, and promoting trade investment and economic integration, among other topics."
