9 April 2008
Luanda — Angolan president, José Eduardo dos Santos accepts invitation from his counterpart, Boni Yayi, to visit Benin
Angolan head of State, José Eduardo dos Santos, has been invited by his Beninese counterpart, Boni Yayi, to visit Benin, as part of the effort to have cooperation between the two countries reinforced.
The information in contained in a final communiqué released at the end of the two-day visit president Boni Yayi paid to Angola that ended on Tuesday.
According to the note, the invitation has been accepted by the Angolan head of State, but the date is still pending diplomatic arrangements.
During his visit to Angola, the source says, Boni Yayi announced his government's decision to open an embassy in Angola, with a view to intensifying the relations and more closely follow up developments.
The visiting president also expressed a special interest in establishing a partnership between the Angolan National Oil Company (Sonangol) and the Beninese Society of Oil Derivatives Trade (Sonacop), seeking a favourable framework for Angola to supply refined oil by-products to Benin.
On the other hand, the two heads of State decided to set up a bilateral commission and recommended that the preparatory meeting for its first session takes place before the end of this year.
The parties also recognised the need to encourage exchange between the sectors of common interest and decided to launch the bases for a more dynamic cooperation between the two governments, through the signing of accords.
In this regard, the two governments signed a general accord of cooperation in the economic, scientific, technical and cultural fields.
In the international plan, José Eduardo dos Santos and Boni Yayi reviewed matters of the actuality and expressed optimism about the role of leadership being played by the African Union, with a view to the consolidation of the unity and integrity of the continent.
They also agreed on the need for an unconditional support to the African Union in the peaceful settlement of conflicts in Africa.
The two heads of State condemned all forms of terrorism and mercenarism in Africa and concluded that these two evils are complex and global and their fight requires the participation and cooperation of everybody.
In analysing the persistence of the phenomenon of poverty in Africa, and taking into account the stagnation of the public aid to development, the two presidents realised that only an earlier resumption of the integration of the African economies and the rational utilisation of existing resources, within the framework of communitarian development projects, could Africans overcome of underdevelopment and poverty.
While in Angola, the Beninese president received in audience the National Assembly speaker, Roberto de Almeida, the prime minister, Fernando da Piedade Dias dos Santos, and addressed an extraordinary session of the Parliament.
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