Luanda - The secretary of state for International Cooperation and Angolan Communities, Domingos Vieira Lopes, is since Monday in Panama with the aim to discuss and strengthen bilateral cooperation in several areas.

According to a press release, the visit agenda includes a meeting with Panamanian diplomats and with Angolan children who are under special protection at the SOS Children's Villages, as well as a visit to the headquarters of Panama's Export and Investment Promotion Authority (ProPanama).

Last year, Angola and Panama signed a General Agreement on Scientific, Technical, Educational and Cultural Cooperation at the United Nations headquarters in New York.

The document which was signed by the Angolan Foreign minister, Téte António, and his Panamanian counterpart, aims to create the general bases for promoting technical cooperation between the parties in the scientific, technical, educational and cultural fields, in accordance with the laws applicable in both countries.

The Agreement valid for five years is automatically renewable for equal and successive periods, unless one of the parties expresses its intention to terminate it, which must be done in writing, at least six months in advance, through diplomatic channels.

Panama is a Central American country located on the isthmus that connects North and South America.

The Panama Canal is located within its territory, an artificial waterway that connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans and is an important source of income for the country.

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