Africa-Press – Mozambique. According to Mozambique’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, the heads of diplomacy of Mozambique and Spain have expressed their intention to strengthen cooperation between the two countries, highlighting fisheries and tourism as priorities.
The official note was released today in Maputo, following the meeting held on Monday in Madrid between the head of Mozambican diplomacy, Verónica Macamo, and the Spanish Foreign Minister, José Manuel Albares, to discuss strengthening cooperation between the two countries.
‘Macamo and Albares held talks on cooperation in the fields of health, fisheries, tourism, culture and the promotion of the Spanish language in Mozambique,’ reads the statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation in Maputo.
The two leaders also discussed the 9th Session of the Joint Mozambique-Spain Commission, which will take place in November 2024 in Maputo, to analyse cooperation actions from 2025 to 2029.
‘Minister Macamo thanked Spain for its assistance in the fight against terrorism in Cabo Delgado, materialised through humanitarian assistance, as well as Spain’s contribution to the European Union’s Military Training Mission,’ the note concludes.
On Monday, at the end of the meeting, the Spanish government reiterated its commitment to the fight against terrorism in Mozambique and expressed its intention to revitalise the malaria vaccine research centre in Manhiça.
In the statement issued, the Spanish government said that the meeting was aimed at ‘boosting relations between the two countries’ and ‘identifying new areas for cooperation’, highlighting the ‘excellent relations’ that cover various areas, with Albares reinforcing the ‘will to increase cooperation for development with Mozambique’.
The Spanish foreign ministry statement, which does not provide further details on this subject, reads, ‘This will necessarily involve revitalising the Manhiça International Health Centre (CISM), the emblem of Spanish cooperation in Mozambique, which requires action to become once again the pioneering centre of excellence in malaria vaccine research. ‘
With regard to ‘cultural, educational and scientific’ relations, the Madrid government emphasised that they are of ‘great interest’ to both countries and highlighted that ‘Spain promotes cultural development through numerous projects in various regions of Mozambique’, with Albares recalling ‘the growing interest in the Spanish language and culture in the country’ or the 20 or so Spanish researchers who are part of the Association of Spanish Scientists in Southern Africa.
In this regard, the Spanish government emphasised that, however, ‘the deepening of scientific diplomacy requires greater flexibility in obtaining short and long-term work visas, both for researchers and for development co-operators’.
In addition to cooperation at the government and public administration level, the Spanish government said in the same statement that approved investment is also fundamental for Mozambique’s development.
‘In this regard, Albares described the energy transition plan proposed by Mozambique as positive and emphasised the presence of Spanish companies in the electricity sector in Mozambique. He also conveyed the growing interest of Spanish companies in continuing to invest,’ the government said in the same statement.
Mozambique’s minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation began a five-day working visit to Spain on Sunday, intending to strengthen bilateral cooperation, particularly in humanitarian assistance and security, according to an official note sent to the Lusa news agency.
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