Luanda – Angolan head of State João Lourenço left Luanda this Sunday bound for Paris (France) to participate in a high-level meeting on the African Economy, under the initiative of French Government with the involvement of the African Union (AU).
At Luanda’s “4 de Fevereiro” International Airport, the Angolan Head of State, who is accompanied by the First Lady, Ana Dias Lourenço, received farewell greetings from the Vice President of Republic, Bornito de Sousa, members of the Executive and his Office.
The event, scheduled to take place next Tuesday, will discuss issues related to African countries' debt, private investment, infrastructure construction and the economic reforms of African nations.
According to a press release from the Civil Affairs Office to the President of the Republic, the Angolan Statesman will meet, on the fringes of the event, with the counterparts of France Emanuel Macron and of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa, as well as with the Prime Minister of Portugal, António Costa.
João Lourenço is expected back on Wednesday (19).
Bilateral relations
Angola and France established diplomatic relations on 17 February 1976. The two countries also have cooperative relations in several areas.
The cooperation between Angola and France saw new developments, after President João Lourenço's official visit to the European country, on May 28, 2018.
According to data released last March, France has a strong position in Angola, where it operates with more than 70 companies. Oil exports from Angola to France stands at USD 400 million.
France intends to change and deepen its commercial relations with Angola, as part of the economic diversification underway in the country.
The priorities are issues related to industrialization, particularly in the fields of logistics, distribution, agribusiness, among other areas.