Angola’s president starts state visit to China

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (right) shakes hands with João Lourenço prior to a meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing

The Angolan President, João Lourenço, has begun his first State visit to the People’s Republic of China since his inauguration in 2017, which is expected to result in the signing of three agreements and a memorandum of understanding, according to the Angolan press.

The first agreement is aimed at avoiding double taxation, the second covers economic and technical cooperation and the third deals with the opening of a credit line to be signed by the Development Bank of China and the Ministry of Finance.

The parties will also sign a memorandum of understanding on human resources, according to Angolan state news agency Angop.

China and Angola plan to deepen the strategic partnership between the two countries, which has already resulted in the opening of credit lines worth an estimated US$23 billion provided by China to the Angolan government since 2002.

Although the visit has a strong economic focus, President João Lourenço and the delegation will also seek, over the two-day visit, to strengthen political and diplomatic cooperation.

To this end, meetings are scheduled with governors and leaders, including Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China, Li Zhanshu.

Lourenço is also due to meet with local business people, as well as visit to the Huawei Technology Centre and various enterprises in the city of Tianjin. Angola and China established diplomatic relations in 1983. MDT/Macauhub