Luanda – Angolan president João Lourenço was invited on Monday to visit East Timor by his counterpart José Ramos-Horta during a meeting in Luanda, with the aim to reinforce bilateral cooperation between the two nations.
Speaking to the press after the signing ceremony of three cooperation instruments, João Lourenço acknowledged Angola's lack of reciprocity, in accordance with the principles of international norms, in relation to the exchange of presidential visits, as this is the second time that the Timorese Head of State has come to the country, without the same response.
For this reason, President João Lourenço said that he believes that reciprocity should prevail, so diplomatic channels should work to set the date for the visit to the Asian country.
The Angolan president added that the recent opening of the country’s Embassy in Dili demonstrates the country's interest in strengthening ties with this nation, since it was by that time the only CPLP state without a diplomatic mission.
During his speech, the Angolan Head of State spoke of the need to revitalize the Joint Bilateral Commission, as an important tool to implement the agreements signed and those that already exist.
According to the Angolan statesman, the two countries have an interest in cooperating in the oil sector, since Angola has vast experience in the sector and East Timor has discovered deposits of this product that could turn this nation into a "major" oil and gas producer.
João Lourenço underscored that the cooperation should include other areas, such as tourism, trade and agriculture.
The president added that a particular attention should be paid to agriculture, since both countries have an essentially agricultural economy, without neglecting the challenge of industrialization, which, however, requires major investments in infrastructure such as roads, the energy and water sectors, among others.
João Lourenço said that the Portuguese-speaking African Countries (PALOP), in general, could take advantage of the fact that East Timor will be admitted as a member of the Asian Economic Organization next year to sign a free trade agreement with this institution, which brings together countries with very strong economies on this continent.
Agreements
Angola and East Timor signed three agreements on Monday to strengthen bilateral cooperation, witnessed by the presidents of the two countries, João Lourenço and Ramos Horta, respectively.
These include the memorandum of understanding on bilateral political consultations, visa exemptions for diplomatic and service passports, as well as between the Diplomatic Academy (Angola) and the Center for Diplomatic Studies (East Timor).
Ramo Horta, who began a three-day official visit to Angola Monday, was received at the Presidential Palace, in the Upper City, with military honors, following a meeting of ministers from both countries that culminated in the signing of three cooperation agreements.
Earlier, the President of East Timor paid tribute to the founder of the Angolan nation, Agostinho Neto, by laying a wreath on his sarcophagus in the mausoleum built in his memory.
The Monday agenda includes addresses to the National Assembly of Angola followed by visits to the Police Science and Diplomatic Academies on Tuesday.
The two countries established bilateral relations in May 2002.
Since then, the parties have developed a series of policies and public consultations with a view to strengthening ties in their mutual interest.
In June 2011, the two countries signed two cooperation agreements in the fields of military technical assistance and oil.
At the time, Angola offered to provide technical assistance to the Asian country in the oil and gas sectors.
As part of the strengthening of cooperation between the two countries, in January 2023, Presidents João Lourenço and José Ramos-Horta met in Brasilia, Brazil, on the sidelines of the inauguration of President Lula da Silva.
The meeting revolved around the expansion of cooperative relations between the two countries.
President Ramos Horta expressed his desire to boost and expand diplomatic relations, consultations and greater cooperation, underlining that in his view, Angola is a country of great inspiration, taking into account that the nation supported East Timor in its liberation struggle for independence.
The two countries are part of the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries and have cooperated in various areas within the organization.
East Timor is a country located on the island of Timor in Southeast Asia. Its capital is the city of Dili.
The country has a tropical climate and mountainous terrain. It is home to 1.3 million inhabitants, most of them living in rural East Timor. The country was a Portuguese colony until 1975, when it gained its independence.
A year later, however, it was annexed to Indonesia and only became independent again in 2002, when its sovereignty was internationally recognized. ART/AMP
