Luanda, ANGOLA, March 5 - Angolan head of state João Lourenço Monday in Luanda analysed with the Russian minister of Foreign Affairs Serguey Lavrov the strengthening of bilateral relations, according to a press released from the Civil Affairs Office of the President of Republic. ,

 

Angolan Statesman expressed interest in seeing the Russian Federation get involved in more fields of the Angola's economic life, in addition to the exploration of diamond, such as gas production.

 

According to the source, the Russian delegation voiced positively and proposed - in case of possible future cooperation - that Angola joins the Fund of the Gas Producing Countries.

 

The audience granted to Russian diplomat also analysed a package of agreements at the stage of discussion by both parties, including the document that will validate the equivalences of academic diplomas.

 

The agreements, under discussion, might be concluded and signed during the visit the President João Lourenço intends to pay to Russia this year, reads the document.

 

The Russian top diplomat is in Angola to strengthen bilateral cooperation ties and partnership on political, diplomatic, global, regional and continental agenda.

 

Angola/Russia relations date back to 8 October 1976, when the two countries signed Friendship and Cooperation Treaty in Moscow.

 

After proclamation of National Independence, on November 11, 1975, Angola embraced Socialism.

 

In 1991 the country made a U-turn adopting multiparty system.

 

On November 16, 2004, both countries signed an agreement in Luanda to re-launch bilateral cooperation in the economic, technical and scientific fields.

 

On following day the parties set the inter-governmental commission for economic, technical-scientific and trade cooperation.

 

Currently, cooperation between the two States is more significant in the fields such as energy, geology and mining sectors, higher education, training of staff, defence and security, telecommunications and information technology, fisheries, transport, finance and banking.

 

It is estimated that thousand Russian citizens are residing in Angola, whereas 1, 500 Angolans are based in Russia.

 

 

Russia shares 61 countries covered by procedure for the simplification of administrative requirements for granting a tourist visa, entering into force on the 30th of this month.

 

The Russian minister embarked on African continent’s tour that will take him to Namibia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Ethiopia.

 

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