"We currently live in a digital world, dominated by information and communication technologies, with artificial intelligence, with its rapidly growing merits and threats, areas where young people feel at ease due to the ease of learning and faster adaptation", stated João Lourenço.
Speaking at the opening of the 9th Ordinary Congress of the JMPLA, the youth wing of the country's ruling party, the head of state said that with information technologies, digitalisation and industrialisation "more easily" the country should diversify its economy, increase national production, exports and jobs.
"This makes it clearer that we need to invest in young people if we want to make a decisive leap in our economy and in the comprehensive development of our country", he pointed out, asking for their contribution to the executive in finding the best solutions to the problems of young people, such as education, employment, integration into the business world and housing.
The party's president also asked the delegates participating in this congress of the Youth of the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (JMPLA) to reflect on the hopes and aspirations of young Angolans.
This ordinary congress will elect new governing bodies for the party's youth organization, its first national secretary and the new national committee "which will certainly make the JMPLA a more dynamic, inclusive organization that is increasingly closer to young Angolans and Angolan society in general," he said.
João Lourenço also urged young people to lead the "front of the fight" against the vandalism of public property, trafficking and smuggling of goods, against drugs and alcoholism, against disrespect for national symbols, the desecration of graves in cemeteries, and also against domestic violence and other crimes.
"We want a JMPLA committed to the environment, climate change, its consequences and ways to mitigate it", he noted, arguing that young people should also be aware of issues related to global peace and security.
The MPLA leader said that the party has always valued and invested in the potential of young people, and recalled that the country will celebrate 50 years of independence in 2025 with enthusiasm.
Political parties, churches, civil society organizations and "patriotic citizens committed to the noble causes of the nation" will participate "enthusiastically" in the activities planned to pay tribute to all those who "with immeasurable sacrifices made it possible, after five centuries of humiliation, to break the chains of colonial oppression", concluded João Lourenço.
Delegates from the 18 provinces participate in this IX Ordinary Congress of the JMPLA, which takes place from 21 to 23 November, in Luanda to elect the new secretary-general of the political organization, with Adilson Hach and Justino Capapinha running for the position.
