Engineers examine equipments to be put in use in a copper mine project in Angola, in China's northeast Liaoning Province, March 12, 2024. /CFP
China's collaboration with Angola is seen as crucial for the African nation's industrialization efforts, according to Angolan officials.
Angola's President Joao Lourenco, who visited China from March 14 to 17, praised China's role in the country's development. "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," he said.
The visit resulted in the signing of several bilateral cooperation agreements covering areas such as investment, trade, agriculture, and green development.
City view of Luanda, capital of Angola, March 9, 2024. /Xinhua
Highlighting the importance of China's involvement, Angola's Minister of Industry and Commerce, Rui Miguens de Oliveira, emphasized China's contributions. "China's presence and collaboration have been crucial for our industrial relaunch," he said.
He pointed out that Chinese companies and financial resources were instrumental in rebuilding bridges, roads, power grids, and water systems – all critical for economic and social development, especially industrial growth.
Angola's economic ties with China are strong, with Angola becoming China's second-largest trading partner in Africa, boasting bilateral trade exceeding $23 billion in 2023.
In the past decade, cooperation between China and Angola under the Belt and Road Initiative has yielded fruitful results, Rui Miguens said, describing the initiative as promoting economic and social development on the African continent and helping Africa to integrate into global trade.
(With input from Xinhua)