Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský made a working trip to Angola on June 13, 2023. The Minister and his counterpart Téte Antonio discussed the promotion of economic cooperation, as well as geopolitical issues, including Russian aggression in Ukraine. During his meeting with the Angolan Defence Minister, he praised the country’s approach to ensuring security in the region. Minister Lipavský is accompanied on his trip by a business delegation formed by the Confederation of Industry and Transport.
The head of Czech diplomacy opened his programme in Luanda with a meeting with Foreign Minister Téte Antonio. “We are ready to give a new impetus to the relations between our two countries. We see huge potential for the development of mutual trade and investment. Our companies are ready to offer Angola what it needs to diversify its economy. At the same time, we share common challenges with Angola. One of them is the rising food prices caused by Russia’s aggression in Ukraine,” said Minister Lipavský, who invited a business delegation led by the Confederation of Industry and Transport. He mentioned energy, geological research, environmental protection and agriculture among the areas of cooperation.
Minister Lipavský then opened a business seminar at the Ministry of Economy and Planning. There, representatives of the business delegation presented their offers in medical technology, agriculture, engineering and other fields. The seminar was followed by a working meeting with the Angolan Minister of Planning and Economy Mario Joao, whom Minister Lipavský met in Prague in May and who has lived and studied in the Czech Republic for several years and speaks fluent Czech.
During his meeting with the Angolan Minister of Defence, Joao Ernesto dos Santos, Minister Lipavský discussed the modernisation of Angolan defence equipment and other ways of advancing the strategic partnership.
“Czechia and the European Union fully support Angola in its efforts to maintain security on the African continent. We recognise and value Angola’s key role. At the same time, I thanked our partners for Angola’s vote in the General Assembly, where it unequivocally condemned Russia’s attempt to annex Ukrainian territories,” Minister Lipavský stressed.
At the end of the day, the Minister met with Angolan scholarship holders who had studied at Czech universities in the past. “This is an example of the excellent ties on which our countries can build. Czechia enjoys a great reputation in Angola, graduates of our universities are thriving here and are an inspiration for the next generation,” said the Minister. The programme of the working visit of the Czech diplomatic chief continues on Wednesday and Thursday in Zambia.
