Luanda — The acting president of the Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries (CPLP), João Lourenço, on Wednesday in Lisbon, expressed the intention to continue working with the member-states, for the strengthening and expansion of the organisation.
The Angolan head of state, who in the Portuguese capital took part in the opening ceremony of the UN Conference on Oceans, was speaking to the press at the end of a visit to the headquarters of the Executive Secretariat of the CPLP.
"The joint work of the organisation will give greater cohesion so that, within a year or so, when we pass the mantle to the country that will succeed us, we will have a CPLP that is closer to achieving the goals we have been aiming for many years and position it in the place where it deserves," João Lourenço said,
For the CPLP leader, the intention is to have an organisation that makes a difference in international politics and the world economy, with the contribution that the economies of its members can make in the future.
"We are here to work for the success of the CPLP," said João Lourenço who highlighted the "good performance and work" developed by the secretariat of the permanent body, led by Zacarias da Costa, in this first year of the mandate he has ahead of the Angolan presidency.
During the visit to the CPLP's facilities, guided by the organisation's executive secretary, Zacarias da Costa, the Angolan head of state, in his capacity as head of the institution, signed the honour book.
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Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Mozambique, Portugal, Sao Tome and Principe and East Timor are member states of the CPLP.
Angola has held the rotating presidency of the Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries since the organisation's 13th Conference of Heads of State and Government, held from 12 to 17 July, 2021, in Luanda.
Angola, which has succeeded Cape Verde as president of the organisation for the 2021-2023 period, has an agenda, among other projects, to boost mobility between member states and pay special attention to the economic sector.
Principles and objectives of the CPLP
The Community is the privileged multilateral forum for the deepening of mutual friendship and cooperation between its members.
Created on 17 July 1996, the CPLP has legal personality and financial autonomy, and its general aims are political and diplomatic consultation between its member states.
Cooperation in all fields, including education, health, science and technology, defence, agriculture, public administration, communications, justice, public security, culture, sports and the media and the materialisation of projects for the promotion and dissemination of the Portuguese language are part of its interests.
