Chinese, Angolan presidents hold talks, elevating bilateral ties to comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership

Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with Angolan President Joao Lourenco, who is on a state visit to China, in Beijing on Friday.

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 benefited 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 said.

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 noted.

President Xi also encouraged enhancing high-quality collaboration within the Belt and Road Initiative and other strategic areas, emphasizing the solid foundation and potential of China-Angola cooperation.

He called for greater efforts to protect the rights and safety of Chinese nationals and businesses in Angola while urging Angola to continue promoting its products in China through various trade platforms.

Noting that the rise of developing countries is unstoppable, Xi said that whether in global governance or in the process of development and prosperity, the Global South must not be left out.

He told Lourenco that China is a reliable friend and sincere partner of African countries on the road to safeguarding independence and autonomy as well as promoting development and revitalization.

China supports African countries and the African Union in their commitment to solving African problems through African means and maintaining regional peace and stability, Xi added.

He also voiced China's willingness to strengthen multilateral coordination with African countries, including Angola, to safeguard the common interests of developing countries, jointly advocate an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, and promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

Lourenco, for his part, pointed out that Angola-China relations have maintained a high level of development, stressing that "whether during the post-civil war period or at the difficult time of coping with COVID-19, China was always the first country to provide valuable support to Angola, for which Angola expresses its heartfelt gratitude."

China's support and cooperation have greatly contributed to Angola's infrastructure construction and economic and social development, which is a model of mutually beneficial cooperation, he said.

The Angolan president welcomed more Chinese enterprises to invest in Angola and contribute to his country's development and revitalization.

He also made it clear that the Angolan side firmly adheres to the one-China policy and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China. He voiced his belief that the Taiwan question will be well resolved.

Lourenco called on the two sides to advance multilateral cooperation and jointly safeguard the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter, as well as the maintenance of important norms of international relations.

Angola looks forward to working with China to achieve further results in the bilateral relationship, he continued.

The two leaders also witnessed the signing of multiple bilateral cooperation documents and a joint communique.

(With input from Xinhua)