Luanda – Angola’s Vice President Esperança da Costa discussed Thursday with the Chinese ambassador to Angola, Gong Tao, issues related to the strengthening of cooperation between the two countries, with emphasis on the availability of increased scholarships for Angolan cadres.
At the end of the audience, the diplomat said Chine was committed to cooperate in staff training in his country and in companies operating in Angola, in order to contribute to socio-economic development.
He said that China is seeking exchanges to support for president João Lourenço's policies aimed at economic diversification, increasing national production, developing the sectors of industry, agriculture, fisheries, mineral exploration and tourism, fundamental areas in order to generate wealth and more jobs.
Gong Tao promised new investments in different domains, with reciprocal advantages that cover transfer of knowledge and technologies for the modernisation of services.
The diplomat pointed out, among the new Chinese investments in the country, the technological parks of Huawei, in Talatona (Luanda), and industrial parks in Barra do Dande (Bengo), which already exports some production to neighbouring countries.
He recalled that after the Covid-2019 pandemic, Chinese businessmen resumed visits to Angola to explore the possibility of setting up new factories, with a view to transforming raw materials.
The diplomat considered the China/Africa Trade and Investment fair, scheduled for July, crucial for publicising the image of Angola which managed to overcome the crisis and has become safe for Chinese investment.
Chinese ambassador put at USD 27.3 billion the volume of trade between Angola and his country last year.
He said that Angola is China's second largest trading partner in Africa, after South Africa, and his country is Angola's largest partner, as a result of the strategic partnership agreement signed in 2010.
He highlighted the fact that China is continuing its modernisation process, in order to guarantee prosperity and the socio-economic development of its approximately 1.4 billion inhabitants, covering all social groups.
Gong Tao praised the Angolan role in mediating conflicts on the African continent, which earned the President of the Republic of Angola, João Lourenço, the title of champion of peace in Africa.
He welcomed the fact that Angola and China remain committed to promoting world peace, security and stability.
The diplomat said that his country is developing peace plans to help calm conflicts in different regions of the globe.
Angola and China are strategic partners in the most varied domains and their relationship of friendship and cooperation, which dates back to the first years of
Angola's independence, has developed at an accelerated pace.
