PRETORIA: Angolan President João Lourenço and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa convened in Pretoria on Thursday to discuss and strengthen cooperative relations between their respective nations. This meeting marks the beginning of President Lourenço’s state visit to South Africa, aimed at bolstering ties between the two historically connected countries.
According to Angola Press News Agency, the Angolan President was received with military honors upon his arrival at the Union Buildings, the official seat of the South African government. The meeting between Lourenço and Ramaphosa is intended to reinforce bilateral relations and lead to the signing of new agreements in various sectors, including agriculture, energy, transport, and youth and sports. These agreements are expected to solidify the partnership and promote mutually beneficial trade and investment.
Following their private discussions, the two leaders are scheduled to address the South Africa/Angola Business Forum under the theme “South Africa
and Angola: Working together to forge a new era of cooperation and partnerships to increase mutually beneficial trade and investment.” President Lourenço’s visit is in response to an invitation from President Ramaphosa during his visit to Angola in August.
The discussions between the presidents also encompass security issues in the Great Lakes Region, particularly developments in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. President Ramaphosa commended President Lourenço’s mediation efforts in the DRC, contributing to the peace process and achieving a ceasefire between the DRC and Rwanda. The visit underscores the continued commitment of both nations to fostering a strong cooperative relationship.