Luanda – Angola’s non-resident ambassador to Jamaica, Agostinho Van-Dúnem, presented his credentials to the Governor-General of Jamaica, Patrick Allen, on Tuesday (March 11), formalizing his mission as a diplomatic representative in this country.
During the ceremony, the diplomat conveyed greetings of the President of the Republic, João Lourenço, to the Government and people of Jamaica, highlighting the desire to strengthen ties of friendship and cooperation between the two countries.
“Our priority today is to strengthen economic cooperation to diversify Angola’s economy and drive sustainable and inclusive development,” he said.
He stressed that Angola and Jamaica share strong historical and cultural ties, in addition to several opportunities for partnerships, especially in the sectors of tourism, agriculture, fisheries and the preservation of common history.
The diplomat also reported that Angola, under the leadership of President João Lourenço, currently holds the African Union (AU) presidency.
Angola's AU presidency focuses on aspects such as promoting peace, security and stability on the continent.
He also highlighted Angola's active role in mediating conflicts, such as between the Democratic Republic of Congo (RDC) and Rwanda, as well as investments in infrastructure to boost economic growth and generate jobs for African youth.
Agostinho Van-Dúnen expressed the interest of the Angolan minister of Foreign Affairs in making an official visit to Jamaica soon, in return for the visit of the Jamaican Minister of Foreign Affairs to Angola in 2023.
"We want to take concrete steps to strengthen our relations and advance cooperation initiatives that benefit both countries," he added.
Finally, the diplomat also stressed that Angola seeks the Jamaican govt's support for the deepening of bilateral relations and the alignment of interests in international forums.
ART/CF/jmc
