Pretoria - The visit of the President of the Republic, João Lourenço, to South Africa exceeded expectations, taking into account the statements of the Angolan statesman who considered it 'very positive'.
The agenda of the visit, at the invitation of his South African counterpart, Cyril Ramaphosa, began with a reception with military honors at the Presidential Palace 'Union Buildings', followed by a private meeting.
In the face-to-face, the senior dignitaries exchanged views on key areas of bilateral cooperation and regional and international issues, with emphasis on the still latent conflicts in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, Palestine and the War between Russia and Ukraine.
Subsequently, ministerial delegations from the Angolan and South African governments held talks, under the chairmanship of João Lourenço and Cyril Ramaphosa, where strategies were drawn up to increase cooperation in various areas.
Both countries also identified the sectors that will strengthen cooperation, such as the strategic areas of energy, mining, agriculture and trade, with emphasis on initiatives that attract more foreign investment in Angola and South Africa.
The agenda at the South African Presidential Palace included the signing of two agreements in the sectors of Higher Education and Culture, which aim to strengthen bilateral cooperation.
Also at the Union Buildings Palace, João Lourenço was decorated by his counterpart, with the Order of South Africa, the highest distinction of that country.
In the continuation of the program, the Angolan Head of State laid a wreath at the Freedom Park Museum, in Pretoria, where, on the Wall of Remembrance, there are photographs of internationally renowned figures such as the first President of Angola, António Agostinho Neto and also Queen Nzinga Mbandi.
The Wall of Remembrance is one of the most significant structures in Freedom Park, located in Pretoria, South Africa.
This memorial pays tribute to the people who sacrificed their lives for freedom and human rights, especially in the context of the struggles against colonialism and apartheid.
Before leaving Pretoria, João Lourenço, accompanied by the First Lady of the Republic, Ana Dias Lourenço, participated, in the company of Cyril Ramaphosa, in the South Africa/Angola Business Forum, where businessmen from both countries were present.
Relations between Angola and South Africa have deep roots, cultivated over decades of struggle for the emancipation and progress of our continent.
Soon after the fall of Apartheid, with the democratic transition in South Africa, the two countries began a path of cooperation that was consolidated in several areas of common interest, a historical milestone that allowed the transformation of old challenges into opportunities for constructive dialogue, with regional integration, the promotion of peace and security and the search for sustainable development as pillars. AFL/ART/DOJ
