Luanda: The President of Tanzania, Samia Suluhu Hassan, returned early Wednesday afternoon after a 72-day state visit to Angola, at the invitation of the Angolan Head of State, Joo Louren§o. On her departure, the Tanzanian stateswoman received protocol honours in the State Room of the '4 de Fevereiro' International Airport and was formally dismissed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, T©te Ant³nio.
According to Angola Press News Agency, during her stay in Angola, the Tanzanian Head of State paid tribute at the Dr Ant³nio Agostinho Neto Memorial to the first President of Angola, where she laid a wreath and signed the Book of Honour. She also addressed the National Assembly (Angolan Parliament) and visited the Luanda Refinery. The Heads of State of Angola and Tanzania met behind closed doors, followed by a bilateral meeting between the respective delegations.
In the bilateral meeting, President Samia Suluhu Hassan congratulated Angola on the progress made in the diplomatic, socio-economic, and political fields. She congratulated Angola on the celebration of the 23rd anniversary of Peace and National Reconciliation, seen as a decisive milestone in consolidating Angola's stability and development. Joo Louren§o praised the leadership of his Tanzanian counterpart, highlighting the implementation of the '4Rs' program - Reconciliation, Resilience, Reforms, and Reconstruction - as a sign of Tanzania's commitment to sustainable development.
The Angolan Head of State welcomed President Hassan's initiative to promote clean energy, recognizing its positive impact on environmental sustainability, public health, and economic inclusion. The two countries exchanged views on bilateral cooperation, as well as regional and international issues of common interest, expressing satisfaction with the historical relations dating back to the period of Angola's liberation struggle. The discussions advocated for continued dialogue based on mutual trust, with high-level reciprocal visits and regular political consultations.
To boost trade and investment flows, the two Presidents instructed the Angolan Private Investment and Export Promotion Agency (AIPEX) and the Tanzania Investment Centre (CIT) to organize a Business Forum to be held in 2025. Furthermore, the Tanzanian government decided to apply the principle of reciprocity and exempt Angolan citizens from tourist visas, aiming to encourage tourism, cultural exchange, and economic growth.
Diplomatic relations between Angola and Tanzania were officially established in 1976, shortly after Angola's independence was proclaimed on 11 November 1975. Since then, the relationship has been built on historical foundations of solidarity and friendship, evolving into broader cooperation in political, diplomatic, economic, and multilateral fields.
