The Republic of Angola, commonly known as Angola, is a country located in southwestern Africa. It has an area of 1,246,700 square kilometers and an estimated population of 32.87 million.
Angola was once part of the Kingdom of Kongo (the Kingdom of Congo) in central and western Africa. The kingdom was founded in the 14th century and included much of present-day northern Angola, as well as parts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Congo (Brazzaville) and southern Gabon.
Originally known as Portuguese West Africa, Angola was originally Portugal's most economically valuable and wealthiest colony. Beginning in 1951, Angola became an overseas province of Portugal.
In the 17th and 18th centuries, Angola was an important base for the Portuguese slave trade. Between 1580 and 1680, more than a million slaves were shipped to Brazil.
The Angolan War of Independence began in the 1960s, when China supported the Angolan people in their struggle for independence against colonial rule.
After the end of the Angolan civil war in 2002, China provided economic assistance to Angola; A total of $45 billion was allocated between 2004 and 2008 to assist the Angolan government in building infrastructure such as schools, clinics and roads.
Angola is rich in untapped resources and was once a Portuguese territory, so it is known as the "Brazil of Africa". A total of 8 billion barrels of oil are deposited along angola's coast, and diamonds are also produced inland.
Angola is the largest coffee producer in Africa, and most of the coffee is the famous Robusta species.
Angola has an outer enclave, cabinda province, located between the Republic of the Congo and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The enclave is rich in oil resources.
The Economist reported in its 2008 report that diamonds and oil account for 60 per cent of Angola's economy and account for almost all of the country's income and all major exports. The growth was driven almost entirely by rising oil production, and in December 2006 Angola was admitted as an OPEC member.
It can be said that Angola is an economically poor country, but it is an energy rich country.
China has established the "Angolan model" with Angola, which is simply oil for loans.
After the Angolan Civil War, the country was in ruins and waiting to be rebuilt. According to normal thinking, Angola can sell oil to make money, and use the money earned to engage in construction and development. However, this kind of thinking, the money comes too slowly.
At that time, China already had mature experience in africa development. Therefore, it was a hit with Angola and set a cooperation model for Angolan oil for Chinese loans.
In 2003, the Chinese and Angolan governments signed a framework agreement. The following year, the Export-Import Bank of China provided Angola with its first $2 billion loan, all for its domestic infrastructure, which was repaid with angolan oil.
Chinese Ambassador to Angola Gao Kexiang once described China as a "trustworthy good friend and brother" in Angola.
Angola has one of the youngest populations in the world, with a median age of only 15.9 years. Only Niger and Uganda have younger populations.
Angola has the second highest fertility rate in the world, after Niger. On average, each woman has 5.96 children.
Sabel dos Santos, an Angolan businesswoman, is the richest woman in Africa. She is the daughter of former Angolan President José Eduardo dos Santos and has an estimated $2.2 billion fortune.
The giant sable antelope is an endemic species of Angola that is thought to be extinct since 1982. However, the antelope was "rediscovered" in 2006 but remains endangered.
Angola is home to one of the largest waterfalls in Africa (and possibly the second largest), the Kalandula Falls. The waterfall is 105 meters high and 400 meters wide.
Text: Xiao Ao
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