China last month marked the 50th anniversary of Angolan independence (November 11th 1975), which followed a protracted armed struggle for liberation against Portuguese colonialism and the overthrow of the fascist regime in Lisbon.
On November 28, Vice Foreign Minister Miao Deyu attended and spoke at the reception hosted by the Angolan Embassy in Beijing.
He stated that the friendship between China and Angola has a long history and enjoys a solid foundation. In recent years, under the strategic guidance of President Xi Jinping and President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, practical cooperation in various fields between China and Angola has yielded fruitful results, benefiting the peoples of both countries. China is willing to work with Angola to carry forward the traditional friendship, join hands in seeking common development, and make greater contributions to building an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era.
Ambassador of Angola Dalva Maurĺcia Calombo Ringote Allen stated that Angola and China share a deep traditional friendship, and that bilateral relations are rooted in the values of friendship, peace, solidarity, respect, and mutual benefit. The Angolan side sincerely thanks the Chinese side for the valuable support it has long provided for Angola’s national independence, reconstruction and development.
Earlier, from November 10 to 11, Special Representative of the Chinese Government on African Affairs Liu Yuxi visited Angola. Angolan President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço met with him, and they exchanged views on bilateral relations and issues of common concern.
Liu Yuxi handed over President Xi Jinping’s congratulatory message on the 50th anniversary of Angola’s independence and stated that under the strategic guidance of the leaders of both countries, the bilateral relationship between China and Angola has gained in-depth development, and mutually beneficial cooperation has yielded fruitful results.
President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço thanked President Xi Jinping for his congratulatory message, and expressed that Angola admires the historic achievements China has made under the leadership of President Xi Jinping, regards China as the most important partner for development cooperation, and is willing to strengthen coordination and cooperation with China to safeguard the interests of the vast number of developing countries, including those in Africa.
During the visit, Liu Yuxi also held working exchanges with Foreign Minister Téte António and attended the celebration of the 50th anniversary of Angola’s independence on behalf of the Chinese side.
In all, some 45 foreign delegations, including more than a dozen heads of state or government, along with a number of former African Presidents, attended the celebrations in the capital Luanda, which included both civilian and military parades. Among them were the Presidents of Namibia, Zimbabwe, the Republic of Congo, São Tomé and Príncipe, Cape Verde, Comoros, the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), and Portugal, the Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the President of the Assembly of Mozambique, and the President of the Council of the Nation of Algeria. An especially warm welcome was given to Esteban Lazo Hernández, member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of Cuba Central Committee and President of the National Assembly of People’s Power and the Council of State.
Granma, the newspaper of the PCC, reported: “Our country’s internationalist epic, especially during the heroic Operation Carlota, was an enduring page of altruism and solidarity, whose contribution was decisive in preserving and consolidating Angola’s independence and achieving that of Namibia, as well as making a significant contribution to the demise of the apartheid regime.
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