Luanda — The minister of State and of Foreign Affairs of Singapore, Zainul Abin Asheedr Monday here expressed his country's interest to expand and consolidate cooperation relations with Angola, with highlight to the sectors of civil aviation, information technologies and training of staff.

Zainul Abin Asheedr, in Angola since Saturday for a three-day visit, was speaking to the press at the end of an audience granted by the Angolan prime minister, Fernando da Piedade Dias dos Santos.

He said that he handed over to the prime minister a message from the President of his country, Sellapan Ramanathan Nathan, in which he invites the Angolan Head of State, José Eduardo dos Santos, for a State visit to Singapore.

He affirmed that he was briefed by the premier about the current situation of the country, what makes him believe that Angolan will develop more in the coming years. The Singaporean minister of State and of Foreign Affairs expressed his confidence to the establishment of a solid bilateral cooperation.

Singapore is "a small and prosperous" island of South East Asia. With a tropical climate, and a dense multicultural population of about 3,6 million people (2000), with 76% being Chinese, 15% Malayans and 6% Indians.