Brazil’s President visits Angola to strengthen ties

Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff arrived in Angola Wednesday evening for a two-day official visit aimed at strengthening political and economic relations.

President Rousseff, who was received at the 4 de Fevreiro International Airport in Luanda by Angolan Foreign minister George Chikoty, was due to hold talks with President Jose Eduardo dos Santos at the Presidential Palace before proceeding to address the National Assembly.

President Rousseff's visit is part of her tour of southern Africa that includes a meeting she attended in Pretoria, South Africa, of India, Brazil and South Africa (IBSA) group.

Before travelling to Luanda, President Rousseff also visited Maputo on the invitation of her Mozambican counterpart Armando Guebuza.

According to the Brazilian ambassador to Angola, Mr Ana Cabral, her country was keen to re-launch bilateral cooperation with the southern African oil giant and sign deals especially in the geology and mines sector.

Ms Cabral added that the Brazilian Head of State would also analyse the support Angola had been giving to reform process in Guinea Bissau’s security sector.