Vucic: Angola supports Serbia's territorial integrity, bilateral relations have never been called into question

President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic emphasized that bilateral relations with Angola have never been called into question and expressed gratitude to Luanda for supporting Serbia’s territorial integrity, just as Serbia consistently supports Angola’s territorial integrity and interests wherever possible. Angolan President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço stressed that Serbia and Angola share identical positions on international affairs.

Speaking at a joint press conference, Vucic noted that Lourenço’s visit represented a special honor, as it was the first visit by an Angolan president to Serbia in 49 years.

“Today we have the special honor of hosting the President of Angola. When I say special honor, you would hardly believe when an Angolan president last visited Serbia – it was 49 years ago, in 1977. I am incredibly happy and pleased that, after many invitations, I have succeeded in hosting a sincere friend of our country. Angola marked 50 years of independence, and our country has always supported its struggle. We admired the heroes of that struggle,” the Serbian president said.

He recalled that he had lived near Agostinho Neto Street and that even children in Serbia were familiar with the Angolan people's struggle for independence.

“Our bilateral relations have never been called into question. We support one another in international organizations. I am particularly grateful that Angola supports Serbia’s territorial integrity, just as Serbia consistently supports Angola’s territorial integrity and interests wherever possible,” Vucic stressed.

He said the two leaders exchanged views on important political issues and that the interests and political positions of the two countries largely coincide.

“We lead two independent states that look after their own interests while striving to remain open to cooperation with all major powers and countries around the world,” Vucic underlined.

He added that neither he nor his Angolan counterpart were fully satisfied with the current level of economic cooperation and believed that much more could and should be done.

“There are already major Serbian investments in Angola, and I believe there will be more. The agreements signed today are of exceptional importance, particularly those concerning the promotion of investments and the avoidance of double taxation. We also discussed cooperation in agriculture. Angola could become a kind of Brazil for the whole of Africa. I believe our experts can contribute to Angola’s further and accelerated development,” Vucic explained.

He noted that they had discussed all other areas of cooperation as well and expressed satisfaction that President Lourenço would have the opportunity tomorrow to visit the Military Technical Institute and see firsthand how advanced Serbian technology is and what Serbia is capable of producing.

The two presidents also discussed artificial intelligence, modern technologies, and potential cooperation in those fields.

“We are very pleased with our political relations, but economic cooperation must follow. I believe that, with increased investment, we will find opportunities in the future to establish a direct air link with Luanda. There is also considerable room for cooperation in tourism,” Vucic said.

He stressed that students represent a bridge of friendship between the two nations and pledged to ensure that more people in Serbia learn Portuguese.

“I hope we will successfully conclude this visit, and already next week we will continue to follow up on this cooperation, when we expect new guests from Angola in Serbia. You can always count on Serbia,” Vucic said.

Lourenço: Serbia and Angola Share Identical Positions on International Affairs

Angolan President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço stated that Serbia and Angola share identical positions on international affairs.

“We advocate global peace and security, multilateralism, and reform of the United Nations Security Council so that it can truly play its role in preventing wars and armed conflicts, which have unfortunately become increasingly common, particularly in the Middle East and Europe. This means that Angola and Serbia today, whenever justified reasons exist, coordinate their positions and seek to oppose the negative trends currently unfolding in international politics,” Lourenço said.

He stressed that major international organizations, including the United Nations, are forums in which Angola and Serbia jointly advocate principles that could help save the world from future crises.

“We must do everything possible to save the world from catastrophes,” the Angolan president emphasized.

He also pointed out that, in today's world, countries cannot ignore the need to invest in the defense sector and noted that Angola is interested in cooperating with Serbia in that area.

Lourenço recalled that relations between the two countries were built on foundations laid during Angola’s struggle for independence from Portuguese colonial rule.

“Last year we celebrated half a century of Angola’s independence, and we have never failed to acknowledge the support we received from the people of Serbia and the other peoples who made up the former state. That gratitude has evolved into a friendship that continues to endure. However, we want that friendship to be reflected in economic cooperation as well, which is currently below the level we would like it to be. That is the main reason for this visit to Serbia – to find ways to strengthen cooperation through the signing of agreements and memoranda of understanding,” Lourenço said, highlighting in particular the agreements on the avoidance of double taxation and the reciprocal protection of investments.

Presidents Exchange Decorations

President Aleksandar Vucic presented the Order of the Republic of Serbia on a Sash to President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, while the Angolan head of state awarded President Vucic the Order of Agostinho Neto.

Lourenço expressed special gratitude for the decoration, stating that he viewed it as recognition of his country and the people of Angola.

Exchange of Bilateral Documents

Ten cooperation documents between Serbia and Angola were exchanged at the Palace of Serbia in the presence of Presidents Aleksandar Vucic and João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço.

The Agreement between the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Angola on the Elimination of Double Taxation with Respect to Taxes on Income and the Prevention of Tax Evasion and Avoidance was exchanged by Serbian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Adriana Mesarovic and Angolan Minister of Finance Vera Esperança dos Santos Daves de Sousa.

The Agreement between Serbia and Angola on the Reciprocal Promotion and Protection of Investments was exchanged by Deputy Prime Minister Adriana Mesarovic and Minister of Industry and Trade Rui Miguêns de Oliveira.

The Air Services Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the Government of the Republic of Angola was exchanged by Minister of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure Aleksandra Sofronijevic and Angolan Foreign Minister Téte António.

The Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the Government of the Republic of Angola on the Gainful Employment of Family Members of Diplomats and Members of the Administrative and Technical Staff of Diplomatic Missions was exchanged by Foreign Ministers Marko Djuric and Téte António.

The Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the Government of the Republic of Angola on Cooperation in Agriculture was exchanged by Serbian Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management Dragan Glamocic and Minister Téte António.

The Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Environmental Protection of the Republic of Serbia and the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Angola on Cooperation in Environmental Protection was exchanged by Serbian Minister of Environmental Protection Sara Pavkov and Minister Téte António.

The Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Information and Telecommunications of the Republic of Serbia and the Ministry of Telecommunications, Information Technologies and Social Communication of the Republic of Angola on Cooperation in Information and Communication Technologies was exchanged by Minister Boris Bratina and Minister Téte António.

The Memorandum of Understanding between the Public Enterprise Post of Serbia and Angola’s National Postal and Telegraph Company on Cooperation in Postal Services was exchanged by Post of Serbia Director Zoran Andjelkovic and Minister Téte António.
The Inter-Agency Cooperation Agreement between Serbia’s Tacno d.o.o. and the Angolan News Agency was exchanged by CEO Jovana Joksimovic and Minister Téte António.

The Memorandum of Understanding between the Development Agency of Serbia (RAS) and the Agency for Private Investment and Export Promotion (AIPEX) was exchanged by Nikola Jankovic, Director of RAS’s International Cooperation Sector, and Arlindo das Chagas Rangel, Chairman of the AIPEX Board.

Vucic welcomed Lourenço in front of the Palace of Serbia with the highest state honors, including a red carpet, the playing of the national anthems of the two countries, and a ceremonial guard of the Serbian Armed Forces.