Luanda – Angolan president João Lourenço, on Tuesday in Luanda, discussed the state of cooperation between Angola and the Russian Federation, during an audience with the Russian ambassador, Vladimir Tararov.
Speaking to the press, the Russian diplomat said that cooperation between the two countries is good, historical and friendly.
The diplomat revealed that the Angolan Head of State has been invited by his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, to take part in the commemorations of the victory over fascism in World War II in Moscow on May 9.
Vladimir Tararov said a summit of African and Russian foreign ministers is planned for November this year in Sochi, to address issues of world peace and security.
The diplomat expressed the interest of Russian businesspeople in investing in Angola's economic development, including the production of agricultural goods such as bananas and coffee, taking advantage of the country's fertile soils.
Russian businessmen, mostly from St Petersburg, the ambassador said, are negotiating the acquisition of land to plant coffee in Angola and ensure direct supplies to their chocolate production companies.
The diplomat assured that the Russian diamond company "Al Rosa" continues to work without any restrictions, contributing to the country's economic development, having announced the donation of 50 ambulances, from a batch of 150, equipped with means capable of offering quality care to patients.
Vladimir Tararov recognized that trade between the two countries is "not very great" but could be re-launched with future meetings of the Angola/Russia Joint Commission, with reciprocal gains.
The first cooperation agreements between Angola and Russia were signed in 1976 in Moscow between the then Presidents, António Agostinho Neto and Leonid Brezhnev, respectively.
The agreements at the time, aligned with the aims of establishing socialism in Angola, covered almost all areas of political, military, economic and social life, including the training of the party's and the country's leading cadres. JFS/VIC/TED/AMP
