India formally established diplomatic relations with Angola in 1985 and has maintained strong ties with the African country ever since. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the relationship
During the visit, Angolan President Joao Manuel Goncalves Laurenco will hold delegation-level talks with PM Modi. PIC/X
Angola’s President, Joao Manuel Goncalves Lourenco, will visit India from May 1 to 4 on the invitation of President Droupadi Murmu, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) informed on Wednesday.
President Lourenco will be accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising several ministers, senior officials, business representatives and members of the media, reported news agency ANI.
During the visit, the Angolan President will meet his Indian counterpart and hold both restricted and delegation-level talks with the Prime Minister (PM). The two leaders will also address key business concerns shared by both countries.
Several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) are expected to be signed between the two countries in the fields of traditional medicine, agriculture, and cultural cooperation, reported ANI.
India formally established diplomatic relations with Angola in 1985 and has maintained strong ties with the African country ever since.
This year marks the 40th anniversary of the relationship.
Angola is also serving as this year’s Chair of the African Union.
Previous major visits
Last year, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met Angolan Foreign Minister Tete Antonio in Kampala on January 18 on the sidelines of the NAM (Non-Aligned Movement) Ministerial Meeting.
On July 26, 2018, President Lourenco met PM Modi in Johannesburg during the BRICS Summit.
Then Minister of State, MJ Akbar, visited Angola from March 15–16, 2018, and held bilateral discussions with Domingos Custodio Viera Lopes, Secretary of State for International Cooperation and Angolan Communities. An MoU on ICT was signed during the visit.
In October 2015, the then Vice-President of Angola, Manuel Vicente, visited India to take part in the 3rd India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS). During his visit, Vicente had met PM Narendra Modi.
On July 15, 2015, then Minister of State, VK Singh, had visited Luanda as the PM’s special envoy to deliver a personal invitation to IAFS III.
During that visit, he called on then Vice-President Manuel Vicente.
Former Angolan Foreign Minister Joao Bernardo de Miranda visited India in May 2006, followed by his successor Georges R Chikoti in February 2011, who came to attend the India-LDC Ministerial Conference in Delhi.
There have been regular political exchanges between India and Angola, with visits from various Angolan ministers, including those of agriculture, finance and health.
(With ANI inputs)
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