Luanda: Angolan President Joo Louren§o received a message from his Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) counterpart, F©lix Tshisekedi, focused on expanding and strengthening bilateral cooperation. The message, delivered in Luanda by Jacques Tshisekedi Tshibanda, the special envoy of the DRC president, underscores the importance of enhancing cooperation between the two nations.

According to Angola Press News Agency, the special envoy emphasized that while Angola and the DRC have solid cooperative relations, these are primarily concentrated on security matters. "We were tasked with expressing, on behalf of President Tshisekedi, our desire to reverse this situation," Tshibanda said. He noted that President Louren§o was very receptive, aligning with Angola's longstanding desire to shift this paradigm.

The diplomat highlighted that despite significant trade relations, the current level of trade between Angola and the DRC is below expectations and requires changes. Tshibanda expressed hope that the intentions outlined in the message would soon translate into concrete actions.

Tshibanda mentioned that sectors related to trade and economic activity would be encouraged to take initiatives, as they can help address the current trade imbalance between the two countries. "We now intend to transform the abundant informal trade that already exists into formalized commercial relations. This is our pressing need, and fortunately, we have found President Joo Louren§o to be very willing, confirming that Angola has long awaited the realization of this goal," he concluded.