BEIJING, March 16 – Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with President of the Republic of Angola Joao Lourenco, who is on a state visit to China, in Beijing on Friday.
The two heads of state announced the elevation of bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.
Noting that China and Angola jointly celebrated the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations last year, Xi said relations between the two countries have stood the test of international vicissitudes and benefitted the two peoples.
China-Angola cooperation is South-South cooperation and cooperation between developing countries, which is about mutual help between good friends, reciprocity and win-win cooperation, Xi said.
In a world that is undergoing both transformation and upheaval, the two sides should continue their traditional friendship, strengthen solidarity and cooperation, firmly support each other, and achieve common development, Xi noted.
China supports Angola in safeguarding its national sovereignty, security and development interests, exploring a modernization path suited to its national conditions, and realizing national development and revitalization, he said.
China is also willing to strengthen exchanges of governance experience with Angola, upgrade bilateral strategic relations, and jointly promote the modernization process of each country, Xi noted.
China is ready to work with the Angolan side to implement key infrastructure projects, support competent Chinese enterprises to carry out various forms of cooperation in Angola, and help the country advance agricultural modernization, industrialization and economic diversification, Xi said.
He said Angola is welcomed to introduce more quality products to China through platforms such as the China International Import Expo and China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo.
China will continue to send medical teams to Angola and implement other projects, provide scholarships to Angolan students, and enhance people-to-people exchanges and friendship, he said.
Xi said China supports African countries and the African Union in solving African issues in the African way, and safeguarding regional peace and stability.
Lourenco said that China was the first country to provide valuable support both when Angola was reeling from its civil war and struggling with the COVID-19 pandemic, and expressed his heartfelt gratitude.
“China’s support and cooperation have greatly promoted Angola’s infrastructure construction and economic and social development, setting a good example of mutually beneficial cooperation,” Lourenco added.
The Angolan side welcomes more Chinese enterprises to invest in Angola to help its national development and revitalization, the president said. Angola firmly adheres to the one-China principle and holds that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China, he added.
