Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday received Angolan President Joao Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço in New Delhi, marking the first visit by a head of state from Angola to India in 38 years.
The visit signals a renewed commitment to enhancing bilateral cooperation across key sectors.
Commemorating 40 years of diplomatic ties, PM Modi highlighted the shared history and solidarity between the two countries.
The Prime Minister also outlined a future-focused agenda for collaboration in energy, defence, digital infrastructure, healthcare, and cultural exchange.
In a joint press statement, PM Modi said, “I welcome President Lourenco and his delegation. This is a historic moment. After 38 years, the President of Angola has arrived in India. His visit is not only going to give a new direction to the relationship between India and Angola, but also going to strengthen India-Africa ties. India and Angola are celebrating the 40th anniversary of their political relations. However, our relationship goes way back. When Angola was fighting for its freedom, India was standing beside it with faith and friendship.”
Prime Minister Modi further noted that India remains a major purchaser of Angolan oil and gas and expressed intentions to deepen the energy partnership.
A USD 200 million line of credit has been approved by India for the modernisation of Angola’s defence forces.
“We are partnering across sectors. India is one of the largest buyers of oil and gas from Angola. We have decided to widen our energy partnership. India has approved a USD 200 million credit line for the modernisation of Angola’s defence forces. We will share our experience in digital public infrastructure, space tech and capacity building with Angola,” PM Modi asserted.
“We would be happy to assist in training Angola’s armed forces. Taking forward our development partnership, we will share our capabilities with Angola in digital public infrastructure, space technology and capacity building. Today, we have also decided to further strengthen our ties in healthcare, diamond processing, fertiliser and critical minerals. The popularity of yoga and Bollywood in Angola is a symbol of the strength of our cultural ties. To strengthen our people-to-people relations, we have decided to start a youth exchange programme among our youth,” the Prime Minister further added.
Earlier in the day, President Lourenço was received at Hyderabad House, where he held discussions with PM Modi, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri during a bilateral meeting.
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