Africa-Press – Angola. German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier praised on Wednesday in Luanda the prominent role of Angola in the presidency of the African Union, highlighting the commitment of the Angolan Head of State, João Lourenço, to promoting peace, security and political integration on the continent.
“When I refer to neighboring economies, I also speak of Angola’s role in Southern Africa. Which is not only economic. The President and his country are, in fact, an indispensable actor in the ongoing political integration, with a personal commitment to peace and security,” the German president said.
President Frank-Walter Steinmeier mentioned the fact that Angola currently holds the presidency of the African Union and organizes numerous high-level international conferences, such as the African Union–European Union Summit.
The German statesman highlighted that in Germany, the diplomatic and political work that President João Lourenço has carried out in resolving African conflicts, such as the conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, is widely recognized, emphasizing that such leadership “deserves all our recognition.”
Frank-Walter Steinmeier then expressed his satisfaction at returning to Angola, recalling that he had already visited the country in 2014 and that he met again with President João Lourenço in 2018 in Berlin.
The German Head of State emphasized that Angola and Germany are united by a solid and long-standing partnership, adding that it is an honor to visit Angola. He congratulated the Angolan people on the 50th anniversary of National Independence.
“We could not have chosen a better time for this first visit of a German President to Angola, which we also understand as a mission to further deepen our bilateral relations,” he stressed.
Bilateral Cooperation
Steinmeier noted that the last few years have been very positive for economic relations between the two countries, although there is still much potential to explore.
Frank-Walter Steinmeier stated that the visit includes a delegation composed of German businesspeople, representatives from sectors such as construction, technology, infrastructure, energy, and renewable energies, who aim to identify new opportunities for cooperation
The German President considered the signing of agreements and contracts between the two parties as proof that they are not standing still, but rather moving forward with concrete developments, and thus praised the growing interest of German companies in Angola’s structuring projects.
Referring to the visit’s agenda, he added that, the following day, he will participate in a rail trip on the Lobito Corridor, a “mega-project that connects the Atlantic coast to the interior and the economies of Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo, in which German companies are also participating.
The German President also took the opportunity to reflect on global challenges, advocating for a rules-based international order and reform of the United Nations, particularly the Security Council, to allow for fairer representation of African countries.
“We believe that the United Nations needs to be reformed. Germany, along with other partners, supports the proposal to include more African countries, both in permanent and non-permanent seats, so that global governance is more equitable,” he argued.
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