Lisbon — Angola's ruling MPLA party is one of the various parties of the Socialist International (SI) that supports the creation of a platform which will follow the progressive ideals of development and human emancipation.

This decision was reached at the SI Council Meeting , which ended last night in Cascais district, in Lisbon (Portugal), in which the MPLA was led by its secretary-general, Mateus Paulo "Dino Matrosse".

The creation of the platform is also being backed by the Portuguese Socialist Party, the MLSTP-PSD (São Tomé e Príncipe), PAICV (Cape Verde), PAIGC (Guinea-Bissau) and the Labour Democratic Party (PDT) of Brazil.

The mentioned political organisations agreed that the platform aims at recognising culture as an instrument of dialogue and co-operation, promotion of international co-operation, through the construction of research projects in social and human sciences, culture and contemporary thought, as well as social development in the domain of human rights in various dimensions.

Other objectives of the platform, whose headquarters are in Portugal, are the promotion of mutualism and social economy of solidarity, as well as boosting culture and the construction of collective historiography in the relationship that involves the Portuguese Speaking Countries Community (CPLP), China, India and others, "which are regions and communities that have a historical relationship with the Portuguese language (...)".

Through the platform, the parties believe that they will "contribute to the construction of economic and global development alternatives, for a reflection about new global progressive paradigms, as well as contribute to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals and reinforce the progressive global networks".

The socialists also intend to boost the education for citizenship and the participation in the life of society, promote social innovation, active aging, sheltering and integrating immigrants and ethnic minorities, as well as promote the social responsibility of firms and the principles of the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC).

The MPLA, PAICV and the Portuguese Socialist Party make up the Founding Committee, which is tasked with elaborating the work plan and chronogram.