King Felipe VI of Spain visited Angola.
King Felipe VI, this Wednesday, February 8, 2023, is the second day of his visit to Angola.
On this second day, he spoke at the opening of the Angola-Spain business forum, which was also attended by the President of Angola, João Lourenço, where he referred that Angola had gone through a very complicated period in economic terms, in recent years, but that it had overcome it with the agreement signed with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
He also said that Angola can and should take the opportunity to relaunch growth and strengthen economic and social development, objectives for which the Spanish Government can play an important role with business and financial support.
King Philip VI's Speech
Before the President of Angola, João Lourenço, King Felipe VI said that, for Spanish companies, Angola has a transcendental role, despite its natural and challenging exit in the European and Mediterranean market.
According to the Spanish monarch, Angola and Spain have been cooperating in various areas for several years, from electrical infrastructure to university education, health, transport, geology, water treatment, fishing, information technology, tourism and industry.
“We will also have the opportunity to listen and learn about a large number of areas, in which Spain and Angola have been working together for years”, said Felipe VI.
In this new context, continued the King, Angola can take the opportunity to relaunch its growth and strengthen its economic and social development and for these objectives both nations can play an important role, through business collaboration and financial support.
According to the King of Spain
Angola has always been important to Spain, with King Felipe VI recalling that, in 1975, Spain was one of the main countries to recognize the independence of this African country, which allowed collaboration in various areas, such as trade and economy.
In his view, Angola's National Development Plan identifies many of these areas as priorities, expressing confidence that Spanish companies can contribute with their experience and be of great use in generating the best results in the short, medium and long term.
“These elements, together with a close public-private collaboration, contribute to the generation of wealth and employment in our respective economies”, he said.
The monarch also underlined that the relationship between Spain and Angola, since independence, has been close and that Spain has made a great effort in cooperation for development over the course of 30 years.
King Felipe VI also called for a union of “forces to defend the basic principles of international law and the Charter of the United Nations” and recalled that:
“Today, more than ever, friendly countries must preserve a just international order, based on rules that have as their cornerstone respect for national sovereignty and the territorial integrity of all States.”
The Spanish king concluded at the end of his visit to Angola which ended today and where he was accompanied by his wife Letizia.
At the end of the visit, the monarch addressed a special message to those in Angola, in the first place out of solidarity, pointing to a hundred religious men and women, as well as a small group of cooperators who carry out work in non-governmental organizations (NGOs) present in the country, a task that is not easy, but which they carry out with “delivery and professionalism".
What do you think of this visit by the King of Spain to Angola? According to King Felipe VI, Spain is important to Angola, do you agree with that statement? We want to know your opinion, do not hesitate to comment and if you liked the article, share and give a “like/like”.
Picture: © 2023 Pedro Parente
