Pretoria, ANGOLA, November 24 - The choice of South Africa for the first state visit abroad, less than two months since the Angolan head of State came into office, was not a random choice. ,

 

Addressing the opening of official talks on the occasion of his State visit to South Africa since Thursday, the Angolan president João Lourenço described his visit as a conscious option.

 

He stated that the initiative highlights the importance of the historical ties that have long united the two countries and based on a common struggle against apartheid and for the liberation and democratisation of the entire southern region of Africa.

 

João Lourenço underlined that it was the efforts and sacrifices of the two peoples, along with those of the other countries of the sub-region, that allowed the building of a  strong democratic and economic South Africa.

 

The Angolan Statesman said that it was time to understand the advantages of closer and concrete cooperation.

 

He stressed that one need not resorting to the remote markets and sometimes inadequate to meet the real needs of the peoples of Angola and South Africa.

 

In his view, the joint action at the bilateral level and within the framework of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) can boost the development of both countries, the region and even the continent.

 

João Lourenço said that the African problems must be solved by Africans themselves to ensure the benefit of general well-being.

 

He noted that the market in Southern Africa (with over 63 million of inhabitants) is enormous.

 

The president considered the local strength of each countries worthless unless the consumers have enough purchasing power and the economies become competitive at the global level.

 

Five agreements have been signed, including the Memorandum of Understanding for the Creation of Bilateral Mixed Commission, Protocol on Environment, Suppression of Visa in Ordinary Passports, Memorandum of Understanding on Police Cooperation, and Mutual Administrative Assistance in Customs Matters.

 

On legal instruments of cooperation, the countries signed in 1998 a General Agreement on Economic, Scientific and Technical-Culture, as well as

the Establishment of the Bilateral Cooperation Commission (November 2000).

 

The two countries analysed the institutional cooperation twice at the level of the Bilateral Joint Committee between 2003 and 2007.

 

Angola maintains political-diplomatic and economic relations with South Africa since 1994, after the fall of apartheid.

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