Xi Holds Talks with President of the Republic of Angola
Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with President of the Republic of Angola Joao Lourenco, who was on a state visit to China, in Beijing on March 15, 2024. 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 added. 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 stated.
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 president also shared that the Angolan side welcomes more Chinese enterprises to invest in Angola to help its national development and revitalization. He also added that Angola firmly adheres to the one-china principle and holds that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China.
After the talks, the two heads of state jointly witnessed the signing of a number of bilateral cooperation documents regarding Belt and Road cooperation, economy and trade, agriculture, green development, and other fields. The two sides issued a joint statement on the establishment of a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Angola.