Luanda - Angola and Switzerland Tuesday in Bern, Switzerland, analyzed the state of political-diplomatic and economic relations and sought ways to strengthen cooperation and friendly ties between the two countries, a statement from the Foreign Affairs Ministry has said.
According to the statement, the official talks were led by the Foreign Affairs minister, Téte António, and the head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, Ignazio Cassis, who led the delegations at the meeting.
During the meeting the two diplomats discussed issues of common interest and assessed cooperation between the two countries, as well as discussions on regional and international matters, having outlined future plans to continue to increase bilateral cooperation, the statement said.
It also discussed the holding of the III Session of Bilateral Political Consultations between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Angola and the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of the Swiss Confederation.
The two delegations pledged to work hard to strengthen and protect business activity with the signing of the Agreement for the Promotion and Reciprocal Protection of Investment (APPRI).
It is also planned to review and implement existing legal instruments to bring them into line with current priorities and opportunities, with particular emphasis on the Agreement for the exemption of Double Taxation in Income Tax Matters and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion.
Switzerland recognized the Republic of Angola on February 18, 1976 and in 1977 opened an embassy in Luanda headed by a chargé d'affaires.
In 1996, the diplomatic representation was replaced by a Humanitarian Aid Coordination Office of the Development and Cooperation Directorate. FMA/VIC/AMP
