Maputo — The Group of the Portuguese-speaking African Countries (PALOP) is meeting since Thursday, in Maputo, Mozambique, to address issues related to multilateral cooperation .

The vice president of Republic, Fernando da Piedade Dias dos Santos is attending the 13th session at representation of the Angolan Head of State.

The Mozambican president Armando Guebuza chairs the closed-door meeting which focuses on strengthening of cooperation among member countries in various fields, as well as the international situation, particularly prevalent in Africa.

The participants will review the case of Guinea Bissau, with a view to creating conditions for the return to the constitutional order in the country.

At the opening session, Armando Guebuza congratulated the people of Angola on the way they conduct the election campaign, ahead of the coming elections, slated for 31 August.

He also greeted his Angolan counterpart, José Eduardo dos Santos on the way he led the CPLP destinies, which allowed the strengthening of relations among members and therefore the resolution of the issues that prevented the progress of the community.

Founded in 1996, PALOP groups Angola, Mozambique, Guinea Bissau, Cape Verde and Sao Tome and Príncipe.

Equatorial Guinea also joined the organisation after adopting in 2007 the Portuguese language as the third official language.