Maravi

Rupiah, Dos Santos hold private meeting

Rupiah, Dos Santos hold private meeting
Written by Chibaula Silwamba
Monday, February 02, 2009 3:24:28 AM

PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda and his Angolan counterpart José Eduardo dos Santos on Friday held a private meeting to discuss the situation in the SADC region and the international economic crisis. President Banda paid a few hours’ visit to Angola at the invitation of President Dos Santos.

According to the Angola Press (ANGOPA), a communiqué issued after a private meeting between President Banda and President Dos Santos in Angola’s capital city Luanda stated that the two leaders agreed to strengthen economic solidarity between Zambia and Angola to improve their economies.

Angolan foreign deputy minister, George Chicoty, who read the communiqué, said the two presidents discussed matters concerning existing bilateral cooperation and the international situation, with emphasis on issues pertaining to Africa.

Chicoty said the meeting between President Banda and President Dos Santos was aimed at reinforcing cooperation between the two countries.

He said an Angolan technical commission would travel to Zambia on February 10, 2009 to make arrangements with the Zambian authorities for a ministerial meeting between the two countries.

Chicoty said the ministerial meeting could take place between February 25 and 26, to discuss issues relating to the economy, particularly the conclusion of the Benguela Railway.

Benguela Railway has a stretch that links the Angola district of Luau, eastern Moxico Province and North Western Province in Zambia.

And Angolan Ambassador to Zambia, Pedro Neto told ANGOPA that the rehabilitation of Benguela Railway was a priority to the Zambian authorities due to the country’s geographic landlocked nature.

"It is one of the first countries [President] Rupiah Banda paid a courtesy visit to since he became president with the purpose of marking his presence in the re-launch of bilateral relations,” said Ambassador Neto.

President Banda left Zambia for Angola at about 07:30 hours and returned at about 17:45 hours on Friday.

However, President Banda did not disclose to the nation what he went to do in Angola.

Labels: GREAT DEPRESSION II, JOSE EDWARDO DOS SANTOS, RUPIAH BANDA, SADC

posted by MrK @ 3:24 AM