Luanda - The National Assembly Speaker, Carolina Cerqueira, defended the strengthening of inter-parliamentary cooperation ties, hoping that the commitments and agreements between Angola and Portugal may find new opportunities to consolidate the centuries-old relations between the two peoples.

The wish is expressed in a congratulatory letter to the new leader of the Portuguese Parliament, José Pedro Aguiar-Branco, on his Wednesday's election in Lisbon.

Carolina Cerqueira states that "On behalf of the National Assembly of Angola and on my own behalf, I want to congratulate you and wish you success in carrying out the high functions that you now assume in the Portuguese politics".

She adds that the aforementioned election sends a positive signal of necessary political stability, because, as parliament is the space for representation of the Portuguese people, in all their social diversity and plurality of political opinions, it is imperative to ensure its role as a true center of the political debate.

Social-democratic deputy José Pedro Aguiar-Branco was elected president of the Portuguese Assembly of the Republic this Wednesday, with 161 valid votes.

VIC/CF/jmc