Luanda — The head of State of Equatorial Guinea, Teodoro Obiang Nguema, arrived Thursday evening in Luanda, to attend the 8th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Portuguese Speaking Community (CPLP) set for July 23 in the Angolan capital.

The Equatorial president was welcomed at Luanda's "4 de Fevereiro" International Airport by the Oil minister, Botelho de Vasconcelos, and members of the diplomatic corps accredited to Angola.

Enjoying CPLP observer member status since 2006, Equatorial Guinea has embarked on a diplomatic effort with Portuguese speaking countries to gain a full right membership.

The Summit of Heads of State and Government that will be going under the motto "Solidarity in Diversity" on Friday, has been preceded by a session of the organisation's Council of Minister on Thursday.

With the purpose of attending the summit, Luanda has already received the presidents of Cape Verde, Pedro Pires, Portugal, Cavaco Silva and Mozambique, Armando Guebuza.

The Portuguese prime minister, José SÃ'crates, and the deputy minister of East Timor, José Guterres, are also in the Angola capital for the event.

CPLP groups Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea Bissau, Mozambique, Portugal, São Tome and Príncipe and East Timor. Equatorial Guinea and Mauritius are observer members.