THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC, JOÃO LOURENÇO, RECEIVED, IN AUDIENCE, THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE POPULAR REPUBLIC OF CHINA, QIN GANG, TODAY, JANUARY 13, AT THE PRESIDENTIAL PALACE.

At the meeting, which takes place moments after Qin Gang was received in audience by the President of the Republic, João Lourenço, in Cidade Alta, the diplomats will assess the levels of bilateral cooperation established 40 years ago, 13 of which were strategic partnerships, as well as study ways of extending the diplomatic relationship to other levels, aiming at mutual benefits.

          On the side-lines of the meeting between Téte António and Qin Gang, which landed late yesterday afternoon in Luanda, the diplomatic delegations of Angola and China are also meeting, and this exchange of ideas should result in the signing of bilateral agreements.

         More than reinforcing the already existing levels of diplomatic trust, the heads of Angolan and Chinese diplomacy can take advantage of the working meeting held in the wake of the celebration of 40 years of bilateral relations, to carry out a retrospective and analysis of the experiences gathered from the past and project future actions.

         At the centre of the conversation between the Angolan Minister of Foreign Affairs and his Chinese counterpart, the question of Africa's permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council should also be present, an ambition of African countries defended by Qin Gang, under the justification that the interests of the cradle continent will only be guaranteed when it conquers enough space on the international stage.

         At the end of his visit to Angola, the Chinese minister of Foreign Affairs will attend a lunch, to be offered by his Angolan counterpart, with the return of the visitor to his country scheduled for 3 pm.

         China, judging by recent statements by the ambassador to Angola, Gong Tao, believes that the presence in Angola of its Minister of Foreign Affairs represents "a highly relevant milestone for both countries" and says it serves as "unequivocal proof" of the degree of importance that the Chinese government attaches to bilateral relations.

         Qin Gang, 56, was appointed foreign minister on December 30 last year. He succeeded Wang Yi, 69, who replaced Yang Jiechi as the government's top foreign policy official.

         The tour of the head of Chinese diplomacy through the African continent includes, in addition to Angola, Ethiopia, Gabon, Benin and Egypt. The option to start strengthening bilateral relations for Africa is part of the fulfilment of a tradition that has lasted for more than three decades.

Xi Jinping congratulates João Lourenço

         The President of the People's Republic of China, Xi Jinping, congratulated, this Thursday, the Angolan Head of State, João Lourenço, on the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

         In the message, released by the Chinese Embassy in Angola on its Facebook page, Xi Jinping said that the relationship between Angola and China "has always been sincere and friendly", and is based on "work carried out hand in hand” for "understanding on matters of mutual interest”.

         He added that the cooperation, maintained in various domains, allowed obtaining "fruitful results".

         Taking advantage of the occasion, Xi Jinping expressed willingness to work with JoãoLourenço in deepening cooperation, stating that China has "confidence in the political-diplomatic ties maintained with Angola".

         The Chinese Head of State also said that the strengthening of cooperation is mutually beneficial”, therefore, he underlined, “he is committed to increasingly developing friendship at an interpersonal level”, with a view to “writing a new chapter in the robust development of the strategic partnership between China and Angola”.