Luanda - The second day of US President Joe Biden's visit to Angola was marked by a meeting with his counterpart, João Lourenço, and the announcement of more funding for food security.
Since Monday in Angola, Joe Biden began the day with a reception at the Presidential Palace, where he received welcome greetings from João Lourenço, reviewed the troops on parade, before the private meeting.
The two Presidents then co-chaired the meeting between the government delegations to define the partnership's strategy for the future.
Speaking at the opening of the meeting, the Angolan President said that Biden's visit buries a past of relations in which, in the context of the Cold War, the two countries were not always aligned.
He said that it also marks an important turning point in relations between both nations, which 'without a shadow of a doubt will know a new dynamic from today'.
He recalled that Angola and the United States of America have had political-diplomatic relations since May 19, 1993, which have been growing year after year, especially since Angola began the serious fight against corruption and impunity and is creating a better business environment.
On the occasion, President João Lourenço advocated the strengthening of cooperation in the defence and security sector with the United States of America (USA).
He said that he would like to see increased cooperation in this field, especially in access to military schools and academies, military training in Angola, as well as more joint military exercises.
President João Lourenço also wants to see enhanced cooperation in maritime security programs, for the protection of the Gulf of Guinea and the South Atlantic, as well as in the re-equipment and modernization program of the Angolan Armed Forces.
On the other hand, he said that important public investment projects are underway, with financing from the American EXIMBANK, CITI Capital and the International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), with American companies such as SUN Africa, Africell, Mayfair Energy, Acrow Bridge, GATES Air among others.
For his part, Joe Biden said he was very proud to be the first American President to visit Angola and for everything that was done to transform the partnership.
Jokingly he said: 'we, the Bidens, are like poor relatives. We show up when we're invited, we stay longer than we should, we eat all their food, and we don't know when to leave. But you have been very generous and hospitable. Thank you', the President acknowledged.
He said that there is still a lot ahead that the two nations can do, and the results so far speak for themselves, such as building an access rail line, from ocean to ocean, which will connect the continent from West to East, for the first time in history.
He also pointed to investment in solar energy projects that will help Angola generate 75 percent of its clean energy by next year.
Joe Biden also spoke about the upgrade of the Internet and communications infrastructure, to connect all high-speed Internet networks in Angola.
The afternoon was marked by a visit full of great historical symbolism to the Museum of Slavery, from where the first Angolan slaves to arrive in North American territory departed.
On the occasion, the President gave a speech where he spoke about the Angolan slaves taken to the United States and stressed that 'Angola and the US are condemned to live together and strengthen historical relations'.
“Although we are at the end of our mandate, we still have a lot to do to help Angola, and financial support that together we can make history,' the American President added, before stressing that 'Angola is a blessed country, in taking in account the most varied resources it has.”
He announced a fund of US$1 billion for food security and US$229,000 for the rehabilitation of the Museum of Slavery and his support for the candidacy of the Kwanza corridor, a route through which millions of slaves passed, to World Heritage.
Considered historic, as it is the first by a United States President, the visit ends on Wednesday with a trip to the province of Benguela, where he will learn about the operation of the Port of Lobito, an important infrastructure of the Lobito Corridor, as well as travel to the Food Processing Factory of the Carrinho Grupo.
In Benguela, before leaving the country, Joe Biden will also participate in the Multilateral Summit on the Lobito Corridor, which is also expected to be attended by the presidents of Angola, Zambia, DRC and Tânzania. ART/DOJ
