Angola's vice President Fernando da Piedade Dias dos Santos Friday in Maputo, Mozambique, said that the programme outlined by the Angolan presidency enable the Portuguese-speaking Countries Community (CPLP) boost development of bilateral relations among the member States.

Fernado da Piedade Dias dos Santos highlighted his country's role at the opening session of the 9th Summit of the CPLP, on behalf of the head of State, José Eduardo dos Santos.

The Angolan deputy president said the programme aimed at strengthen multilateral relations at all levels, encouraging investment and the creation of conditions so that everyone can benefit from common development.

To this purpose, he said that the Organisation's Council of Ministers adopted two legal texts necessary for the development of cooperation, in particular, the new regiment of the special fund and operating manual of special fund.

According to the official, these two instruments represent a significant progress in the mechanisms of funding the actions of community's cooperation, enabling to match the growing demand for intra-Community cooperation activities.

"Therefore, the two-year term remains marked by a series of progresses that will adopt our community of renewed capacity of intervention. This will mach contribute for the fulfilment of its statute goals", stressed the Angolan vice president.

On the other hand, the said that due to the political momentum country is facing related to preparations for the forthcoming general elections, the Angolan head of State could not, unfortunately, come and present himself to his colleagues, as was his desire, the balance of the Angolan Presidency at CPLP for 2010-2012 period"

Attending the event, in addition to vice president Fernando da Piedade Dias dos Santos, the acting president of Guiné Bissau, Raimundo Pereira, presidents of Portugal and Sao Tome and Príncipe, respectively, Cavaco Silva and Pinto da Costa, and vice president of Brazil, Michel Temer.

The President of Cape Verde, Jorge Fonseca, East Timor, José Maria Vasconcelos, as well as the host, Armando Guebuza, executive secretary of the community, three member observers,(Equatorial Guinea, Mauritius and Senegal) and guests, are also joining the meeting.

Addressing the opening session were also the Speaker of National Assembly of the CPLP, Fernando La Sama de Araujo, Chairperson of European Commission, Durão Barroso and the Director-General of FAO, José Graziano da Silva.

The Summit should proceed with the adoption of the report of the Director of the International Portuguese Language Institute and the application for membership by Equatorial Guinea to a full member of the CPLP.

The participants will approve the "Maputo Declaration", the statement about "CPLP and the challenges of food and nutritional security" as well as pay homage to the President Aristides Pereira, Malan Bacai Sanha, and the president and proclaimer Francisco Xavier do Amaral.

CPLP comprises Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea Bissau, Mozambique, Portugal, Sao Tome and Principe and East Timor.

Mozambique will take over from Angola at the rotation chair of the organisation.