Africa-Press – Angola. The President of the National Assembly, Carolina Cerqueira, held a courtesy meeting this Thursday in Geneva, Switzerland, with her Cuban counterpart, Juan Esteban Lazo Hernández, with whom she discussed issues related to parliamentary cooperation.
During the meeting, both partners emphasized the need to strengthen cooperative relations between the two legislative bodies, which were considered excellent.
Given the current global situation, Carolina Cerqueira and Juan Hernández agreed on the need for parliaments to unite to address poverty, hunger, unemployment, climate change, among other challenges to improve people’s lives.
The meeting also served to identify ways to strengthen existing cooperation, build an ongoing institutional dialogue on capacity building, and discuss the need to initial new, mutually beneficial cooperation agreements to ensure the full functioning of both parliamentary institutions.
During the meeting, the support of Cuba, whose citizens shed their blood in the conquest and preservation of Angola’s independence, was emphasized. Cuba continues to train several hundred Angolan professionals at the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels, helping to fill the existing gaps in terms of staff shortages.
The commitment to further strengthening engagement in implementing international solidarity to promote and protect citizens’ rights and ensure the multifaceted development of both countries was also reaffirmed.
According to the two parliamentary leaders, parliaments should approve legislation focused on resolving the problems affecting vulnerable people, particularly the protection of the rights of women and children.
Carolina Cerqueira stated that the bonds of friendship between Angola and Cuba are enduring, as the Angolan people will always be grateful to the Cuban people for their support in the struggle for national independence and in the reconstruction process. In turn, the president of the Cuban Parliament announced that he will have the honor of representing his country at the ceremony commemorating the 50th anniversary of the independence of the Republic of Angola, to be celebrated on November 11 of this year.
The President of the People’s Assembly and President of the Council of State of Cuba announced the efforts being made to address the serious economic challenges facing the country as a result of the global crisis.
Also, the President of the National Assembly held separate meetings with Rolando Patrício, President of Parlatino, the organization of parliaments of Latin America and the Caribbean, with whom she discussed issues related to strengthening relations and multilateral cooperation.
Carolina Cerqueira’s agenda also included a meeting with Thoko Didiza, President of the Parliament of South Africa.
The three meetings took place on the sidelines of the 6th World Conference of Presidents of Parliaments, held in Geneva, Switzerland.
Participating in the meetings were Deputy Idalina Valente, President of the National Monitoring Group for International Organizations, Parliamentary staff, and diplomats from the Permanent Mission of Angola in Geneva.
Angola and Cuba maintain cooperative relations in several other areas, such as security, education, health, transportation, public works, construction, oil, sports, culture, tourism, and agriculture.
The two countries established diplomatic relations on November 15, 1975, four days after Angola’s independence, and a year later, they signed the General Cooperation Agreement, which created the Bilateral Commission.
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