Lisbon – The Portuguese Foreign Affairs Minister Paulo Rangel on Wednesday described the presence of the Angolan president João Lourenço, at the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Carnation Revolution as "incomparably symbolic".
The Angolan Head of State is expected in Lisbon early Wednesday evening to take part in the event on Thursday, at the invitation of his Portuguese counterpart, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.
Speaking to the press as he left a meeting with Angola's Foreign Minister, Téte António, the Portuguese diplomat said the 25th of April is not just about celebrating the freedom of Portugal, but also of Angola and other Portuguese-speaking African countries.
The diplomat recalled that the establishment of democracy in Portugal was the result of the liberation struggle of Portuguese-speaking African countries, and that it was therefore a multilateral celebration.
"It is with a sense of gratitude that we will have the Angolan President here," Rangel said.
As regards to bilateral relations, Paulo Rangel, who was recently appointed to this position, said cooperation with Angola is a priority and a structuring factor, regardless of Portugal's political composition.
"Nothing will change, we will only strengthen our cooperation further. Angola is a clear priority for Portugal's foreign policy, which has a clear specificity, which in addition to reason is also of the heart, due to historical ties," Rangel said.
The Angolan Foreign Minister on his turn emphasized that he has come to meet his counterpart at the historic Palácio das Necessidades to reaffirm the continuity of this historic and substantive relationship.
Teté António said the opportunity served to make a quick analysis of dossiers of interest for both states, such as economic cooperation, community issues, especially mobility, among many others, such as consultation in the international arena, taking into account the important role that each partner plays in the regions and organizations in which they are integrated.
In recent years, Angola and Portugal have signed more than 60 bilateral instruments in a wide variety of areas.
With the signing of the new Strategic Cooperation Program in 2023, relations between the two, in addition to traditional areas such as education, health, justice, defense and internal administration, will extend to new sectors such as tourism, public administration, the digital transition and the blue economy. ART/VIC/TED/AMP
