"South Africa's investment in Angola has been growing satisfactorily with the entry into the Angolan market of large companies from its country that bring with them added value to important sectors of the Angolan national economy, such as the financial, telecommunications, transport, logistics and supply sectors, a fact that deserves our utmost appreciation", highlighted João Lourenço, this Thursday, in Pretoria (South Africa).
Regarding cooperation relations with Pretoria, which date back to 1998, João Lourenço stressed that "although a considerable number of legal instruments have already been signed", he considers it "important to promote, and in the shortest possible time, a review and technical assessment of all agreements concluded, in order to make them functional, more efficient and fundamental, for the strengthening of cooperation".
In this sense, he highlighted immigration, mineral resources, oil and gas, health, culture, education and higher education, in which the two countries can strengthen bilateral cooperation relations.
The head of state also urged South Africa to find a regional solution to the "worrying" crisis of instability that he says is affecting Mozambique.
"I would like to convey to you the interest of the Republic of Angola and my personal interest in developing lines of communication and ongoing consultation with South Africa, in order to define common positions and strategies for seeking solutions to the various crises that are emerging in our region, such as the worrying instability currently being seen in Mozambique due to the non-acceptance by one party of the results of the last general elections held in that country", declared João Lourenço.
The head of state, who was speaking at the Union Buildings in Pretoria, at the end of a meeting with his host counterpart, Cyril Ramaphosa, as part of his first state visit to South Africa, added that "I would therefore like to appeal to the parties involved in this post-electoral dispute to find the best ways to resolve it through dialogue".
In his speech, the leader considered his visit to South Africa as "an important moment in (...) relations at a time when it is becoming increasingly necessary" to hold more frequent meetings "to discuss fundamental issues related to peace and security, development and the well-being of the citizens of (...) the two countries in the southern region of Africa and the African continent in general".
The head of state was welcomed with a 21-gun salute on Thursday morning upon his arrival at the Union Buildings, the seat of the South African Presidency and Government, in Pretoria.
After the meeting at the Presidential Palace, the two heads of state opened a Business Forum in the South African capital.
João Lourenço is visiting Pretoria at the invitation of his counterpart, Cyril Ramapahosa, to "consolidate relations between the two countries", announced the Presidency of the Republic of South Africa.
