Luanda, 08 September (ANGOP) – The President of the Republic, João Lourenço, defended, this Tuesday, greater cooperation between the African Union (AU) and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), in the domains of inclusive and sustainable economic development, as well as human and social.
Speaking at a virtual summit of Heads of State and Government of Africa and the Caribbean Region, President João Lourenço also advocated cooperation in the field of the environment, management of natural resources and climate change.
In his intervention in the initiative, which is taking place for the first time, the Angolan Head of State said that cooperation between the two organizations should extend to the segment of Human Rights, democracy, good governance and the fight against terrorism and organized crime.
The Angolan statesman acknowledged that trade exchanges between countries in Africa and the Caribbean Community are quite limited, although there is immense potential in cooperation between both organizations in the fields of energy, tourism and prevention and protection of the environment.
During the meeting João Lourenço stated that, Angola is developing an infrastructures construction programme to respond to the recurrent problems of drought and floods in the south of the country.
He said it is a global problem that affects not only Africa but also the Caribbean islands, with repeated cyclones, hurricanes, earthquakes and floods.
« An exchange of experience in this field would be mutually beneficial to both organizations, » he noted.
Regarding the strengthening of cooperation in the field of trade, the Angolan President said that it could involve an interaction between the secretariat of the Free Trade Area of the African Union and the Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific Countries (ACP), on the basis of a possible agreement of free trade with the countries of the Caribbean community.
