Adão de Almeida, Speaker of Angola’s National Assembly, paid an official visit to China from September 9-17.
According to Angola’s Angop news agency, the agenda included sharing experiences on China’s legislative process, as well as identifying best practices that could be adapted to the Angolan context. The delegation also visited infrastructure related to science, technology and innovation, sectors regarded as strategic to Angola’s economic and social development.
Manuel Dembo, First Secretary of the Bureau of the National Assembly, noted that the visit is of significant strategic importance, as it is the first official visit by a Speaker of Angola’s National Assembly to the People’s Republic of China. The parliamentarian also highlighted the role played by China in Angola’s post-war reconstruction process, advocating stronger strategic cooperation between the two countries through parliamentary diplomacy.
Angop also reported that the two sides signed a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at strengthening interparliamentary cooperation and promoting political dialogue and mutual understanding as well as closer ties between the two peoples.
Under the instrument, the parties undertake, among other aspects, to deepen parliamentary ties and promote institutional exchanges, contributing to the strengthening of cooperation relations between the Republic of Angola and the People’s Republic of China.
The MoU was signed following September 11 talks between Almeida and his Chinese counterpart Zhao Leji, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC). Zhao said China stands ready to work with Angola, under the guidance of the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, to carry forward traditional friendship, strengthen solidarity and cooperation, advance the implementation of the outcomes of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), and promote the steady growth of China-Angola relations. Further, China appreciates Angola’s long-standing commitment to the one-China principle and will continue to firmly support Angola in safeguarding its national sovereignty, security and development interests.
Almeida said that while pursuing its own development, China supports the common development of its partners around the world. The National Assembly of Angola stands ready to strengthen exchanges with China’s NPC and give full play to the role of the legislature in providing legal guarantees for the implementation of the cooperation agreements between the two countries.
The Angolan visitor also met with Wang Huning, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), on the same day.
Noting that Angola appreciates China’s support for its economic and social development, Almeida said Angola stands ready to deepen cooperation in energy, economy and trade, and transportation, strengthen international coordination, and promote fair and equitable global governance.
The following day, Almeida gave a keynote lecture at the China University of Petroleum, in which he highlighted the role of Angola’s parliament in creating the legislative conditions required for the development of the national oil industry, with particular emphasis on the approval of tax incentives aimed at attracting investment.
Almeida stated that, despite ongoing efforts to diversify the economy, oil continues to occupy a significant position, which is why the state has sought to create conditions to maintain adequate levels of production and attract new investment.
According to the Parliament Speaker, Angola once achieved production of approximately two million barrels of oil per day. However, this level has declined in recent years and currently stands at just over one million barrels per day. He added that this situation requires new investment, particularly in scientific research, exploration and the discovery of new oil fields, as well as in attracting capital for the development of petroleum resources.
Almeida also expressed satisfaction that the China University of Petroleum hosts Angolan students engaged in education and scientific research in the field of petroleum exploration. He considered that the training of these professionals could contribute to the development and growth of Angola’s oil industry and stressed the need for continuous, in-depth and dedicated study.
“We are confident that they will help ensure that Angola’s oil industry continues to grow and prosper,” he said.
In his address, the parliamentary leader also advocated the need for Angola to evolve from a state primarily engaged in oil production into a country with greater domestic capacity to process and refine its own resources.
The following articles were originally published by Angola’s Angop news agency and by the Xinhua News Agency.
Angolan Parliament Speaker makes official visit to China
September 9 (Angop) – Luanda – Angolan National Assembly Speaker Adão de Almeida began an official visit to the People’s Republic of China on Wednesday (9), scheduled to run until 17 September, to strengthen bilateral parliamentary cooperation.
Upon arrival at Beijing International Airport, the National Assembly Speaker was received by Angolan Ambassador Dalva Ringote and Li Yong, Vice-President of the Committee for Social Development Affairs of the National People’s Congress of China and also a member of the Friendship Group between the two countries.
According to MP Manuel Dembo, First Secretary of the Bureau of the National Assembly, the visit aims to deepen relations between the Parliaments of the two countries and align legislative interests with a view to strengthening cooperation between Angola and China.
The agenda includes sharing experiences on China’s legislative process, as well as identifying best practices that could be adapted to the Angolan context.
The highlight of the visit is scheduled for 11 September, when a bilateral meeting is expected to take place between Adão de Almeida and his Chinese counterpart, Zhao Leji, Chairman of the National People’s Congress.
During the visit, the Angolan delegation is also expected to visit infrastructure related to science, technology and innovation, sectors regarded as strategic to Angola’s economic and social development.
Strategic cooperation
For Manuel Dembo, the visit is of significant strategic importance, as it is the first official visit by a Speaker of Angola’s National Assembly to the People’s Republic of China.
The parliamentarian also highlighted the role played by China in Angola’s post-war reconstruction process, advocating stronger strategic cooperation between the two countries through parliamentary diplomacy.
The Angolan delegation includes MPs Manuel Dembo, Reis Júnior, Navita Ngolo, Alcides Sakala, Pedro Neto and Paciência Caxito.
The visit forms part of efforts to strengthen ties between the two Parliaments, with a view to creating new platforms for institutional cooperation and deepening bilateral relations between Angola and China.
Angola and China to sign Memorandum of Understanding on parliamentary cooperation
September 10 (Angop) – Luanda – Angolan and Chinese parliamentary authorities will sign a Memorandum of Understanding in Beijing on Friday (11) aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation in this field.
According to a press release from the National Assembly (AN), its President, Adão de Almeida, has been in China since Wednesday on an official visit that will run until 17 September.
The signing will take place following a bilateral meeting between the parliamentary leaders of the 2 countries, Adão de Almeida and Zhao Leji, who will sign the legal instrument aimed at strengthening interparliamentary cooperation, promoting political dialogue and mutual understanding, and closer ties between the 2 peoples.
Under the instrument, the parties will undertake, among other aspects, to deepen parliamentary ties and promote institutional exchanges, contributing to the strengthening of cooperation relations between the Republic of Angola and the People’s Republic of China.
As part of the programme, National Assembly President Adão de Almeida paid a courtesy visit today (10) to the Angolan Embassy in China, in Beijing.
Received by Angola’s ambassador to China, Dalva Ringote, the parliamentary leader toured the premises of the diplomatic mission and its main facilities on a guided visit that enabled the parliamentary delegation to learn about the operation and activities of the Angolan representation in the country.
During the visit, Adão de Almeida signed the Embassy’s Book of Honour, leaving a message to mark the Angolan parliamentary delegation’s visit to the diplomatic mission in Beijing.
The programme also included a courtesy meeting, followed by a restricted institutional briefing, bringing together the President of the National Assembly, Ambassador Dalva Ringote and other participants.
The meeting briefly addressed the diplomatic mission’s main activities, the state of relations between Angola and China, as well as matters of bilateral interest.
China’s top legislator holds talks with president of National Assembly of Angola
BEIJING, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) — Zhao Leji, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC), held talks with president of the National Assembly of Angola, Adao de Almeida, in Beijing on Friday.
Zhao said China stands ready to work with Angola, under the guidance of the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, to carry forward traditional friendship, strengthen solidarity and cooperation, advance the implementation of the outcomes of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, and promote the steady growth of China-Angola relations.
China appreciates Angola’s long-standing commitment to the one-China principle and will continue to firmly support Angola in safeguarding its national sovereignty, security and development interests, Zhao said, adding that the two sides should forge new cooperation highlights in such areas as clean energy, digital technology and artificial intelligence.
He said both sides should seize the opportunity of the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges to step up cooperation in education, culture, tourism and at the subnational level. Zhao also called on both sides to work together to uphold true multilateralism and promote an equal and orderly multipolar world, as well as a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization.
The NPC of China is willing to work with the National Assembly of Angola to strengthen dialogue and exchanges at all levels and across all fields and to provide legal guarantee for mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries, Zhao said.
The NPC welcomes Angola sending participants to the seminar for parliamentarians it hosts for African countries, Zhao said, adding that the two sides could exchange legislative experience in green development, social governance and safeguarding people’s well-being.
Adao de Almeida said that while pursuing its own development, China supports the common development of its partners around the world. The National Assembly of Angola stands ready to strengthen exchanges with China’s NPC and give full play to the role of the legislature in providing legal guarantee for the implementation of the cooperation agreements between the two countries, he added.
Following the talks, the two sides signed a memorandum of understanding between the NPC of China and the National Assembly of Angola.
China’s top political advisor calls for stronger ties with Angola
BEIJING, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) — Wang Huning, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), met with president of the National Assembly of Angola, Adao de Almeida, in Beijing on Friday.
China is ready to work with Angola to implement the important common understandings reached between the two heads of state, carry forward traditional friendship, deepen practical cooperation and strengthen multilateral coordination to take China-Angola relations to a higher level, Wang said.
The CPPCC National Committee is ready to contribute to advancing modernization in both countries, he said.
Noting Angola appreciates China’s support for its economic and social development, Adao de Almeida said Angola stands ready to deepen cooperation in energy, economy and trade, and transportation, strengthen international coordination, and promote fair and equitable global governance.
Angolan Parliament Speaker delivers keynote lecture at China University of Petroleum
September 12 (Angop) – Luanda – Angolan Parliament Speaker, Adão de Almeida, highlighted on Saturday in China the role of Angola’s Parliament in creating the legislative conditions required for the development of the national oil industry, with particular emphasis on the approval of tax incentives aimed at attracting investment.
During a keynote lecture at the China University of Petroleum, Adão de Almeida explained that the National Assembly (AN), as the legislative body, has among its principal responsibilities the approval of laws and the oversight of Executive action, including its involvement in defining the legal framework that supports investment in the oil sector.
Adão de Almeida stated that, despite ongoing efforts to diversify the economy, oil continues to occupy a significant position, which is why the State has sought to create conditions to maintain adequate levels of production and attract new investment.
According to the Parliament Speaker, Angola once achieved production of approximately 2 million barrels of oil per day. However, this level has declined in recent years and currently stands at just over 1 million barrels per day.
He added that this situation requires new investment, particularly in scientific research, exploration and the discovery of new oil fields, as well as in attracting capital for the development of petroleum resources.
The parliamentary leader stressed that incentives are an essential element in attracting investment to the oil industry, making the intervention of the National Assembly necessary in approving the relevant legislative instruments.
“This is precisely where the National Assembly becomes part of this ecosystem, because the approval of tax incentives, particularly incentives for investment in the oil industry, requires its intervention,” he explained.
Adão de Almeida clarified that, under Angola’s constitutional framework, there are matters that fall under the National Assembly’s absolute legislative authority and others under its relative legislative authority.
In matters of relative legislative authority, the President of the Republic may legislate through legislative authorisation granted by Parliament.
He explained that, in practice, the National Assembly approves an enabling law authorising the President of the Republic to legislate, for a specified period and on a specific matter, including in the area of tax incentives for investment in the oil industry.
Adão de Almeida also expressed satisfaction that the China University of Petroleum hosts Angolan students engaged in education and scientific research in the field of petroleum exploration.
He considered that the training of these professionals could contribute to the development and growth of Angola’s oil industry and stressed the need for continuous, in-depth and dedicated study.
“We are confident that they will help ensure that Angola’s oil industry continues to grow and prosper,” he said.
In his address, the parliamentary leader also advocated the need for Angola to evolve from a State primarily engaged in oil production into a country with greater domestic capacity to process and refine its own resources.
In his concluding remarks, he reaffirmed the willingness of Angolan institutions, particularly the National Assembly, to contribute, within their constitutional sphere of action, to creating better conditions for the development of the oil industry and to ensuring that it delivers stronger results for the national economy.
To the students of the China University of Petroleum, the President of the National Assembly delivered a message encouraging academic dedication and the acquisition of knowledge that will enable them to contribute to the growth of the oil industry, whether in Angola or elsewhere in the world.
