Source: CCTV
In the spring season, Angolan President João Lourenço visited China. Oil, Gas, Diamonds...... Perhaps our first impression of Angola. What kind of development path has this country, which has experienced decades of civil war, embarked on now? How has China become an indispensable partner in the process of realizing Angola's modernization? During President Lourenço's visit to China, Sino-Angolan relations have been upgraded to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, and how will the two countries continue their traditional friendship and work together to create a better future in the future? Today, we are looking for answers through dialogue.
He Yanke: Hello Mr. President, thank you very much for accepting the exclusive interview with China Media Group. During your visit to China, you held talks with President Xi Jinping. And this time, the two heads of state announced that they would elevate China-Angola relations to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership. First of all, would you like to share with us how you felt about the meeting, and what details of the exchange left a special impression on you?
Lourenço: Yes, I'm happy to share with you some of the feelings of this meeting. This was followed by formal talks with President Xi Jinping. As we wished, first of all, we discussed bilateral issues between the two countries and exchanged views on the international political and economic situation. President Xi Jinping has paid close attention to the global situation in turmoil and change. I believe that this was a cordial and friendly meeting, which further deepened the friendship and cooperation between Angola and China.
He Yanke: Since 2000, you have visited China in a variety of capacities, including the General Secretary of the People's Liberation Movement, the Minister of National Defense, and the Special Presidential Envoy. This is your third visit to China as president. What have particularly impressed you about the changes in China over the years?
Lourenço: China always surprises the world, because China's development is continuous. We remember that in the past, the image of China was that of peasants working in rice fields, but now this is no longer the case. Today's China is like a young man like you, wearing a suit and tie, like an executive at a big tech company. Therefore, every day, every year, China is making progress and bringing surprises to the world.
He Yanke: Last year marked the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Angola, and President Xi Jinping said that China-Angola cooperation belongs to South-South cooperation, cooperation among developing countries, and mutual help between good friends. I don't know how you evaluate the current relationship between the two countries, and what are your expectations for the future development of the relationship between the two countries?
Lourenço: I agree with President Xi Jinping. The relationship between Angola and China is exemplary, and the relationship between Angola and China has achieved important development results every year. During my three-day visit to China, I mentioned many times the achievements in the development of bilateral relations, and I cannot exaggerate how many times I mentioned them. I have been saying that, in fact, it was China that came to Angola's aid when it was very difficult and when Angola needed to rebuild after the war. Not only that, when the world faced the sudden new crown epidemic, China crossed thousands of mountains and rivers to lend a helping hand again. China has helped not only Angola, but also many countries around the world. Because China is an important producer of biosecurity products and other anti-epidemic materials.
He Yanke: There is an old Chinese saying that "two people are concentric, and their profits are gold". It is said that if two people work together in the same direction, they can produce a joint force that cuts off any metal, and they are invincible. It emphasizes the importance of cooperation. I think it is very appropriate to use such an old saying to describe the cooperation between China and Angola, I don't know if you agree with it?
Lourenzo: Yes, the way we express it is actually "unity is strength". Therefore, when two entities, two peoples, and two countries come together for the same goal, they can gain greater strength and stronger determination to achieve mutual benefit and win-win results for both sides. As far as national development is concerned, no country can truly achieve self-sufficiency without the need for others. Therefore, we need to work together and learn from each other's strengths. This kind of cooperation is even more important in a particular economic area, passing on experience and knowledge to others while learning from others' knowledge and experience. All countries in the world, big or small, strong or weak, must cooperate if they want to develop.
Angola has experienced a 27-year civil war. After the end of the civil war in 2002, the Angolan government committed itself to reconstruction, which made Angola a hot spot for investment in Africa. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations 41 years ago, China-Angola relations have developed smoothly, and "win-win cooperation" has always been a bright keyword in the relations between the two countries.
On March 16, Lourenço attended the 2024 Angola-China Business Summit in Beijing, which was attended by hundreds of companies from both countries.
During his current visit to China, President Lourenço also made a special trip to Shandong. At the Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lourenço learned more about agricultural planting techniques. In an edible mushroom company in Zibo, Lorenzo visited the intelligent mushroom shed and learned about the cultivation process and intelligent planting technology of shiitake mushrooms. At a medical device company, he was deeply impressed by the development of medical equipment and technology.
He Yanke: I know that Angola has been making efforts to modernize its agriculture and industry. Today (March 17), you also visited a mushroom production company in Shandong. China's mushrooms have helped many places get rid of poverty and become rich. So during your visit today (March 17), do you see any opportunities for future collaboration?
Lourenzo: We really like what we see and hear at the mushroom farm, but I don't want to talk about mushroom products here. I would like to say that Angola wants to significantly increase food production in order to guarantee food security. In short, we do want to learn from China's experience in agricultural production, food production, etc., and we attach great importance to food diversity, as we have seen at the Academy of Agricultural Sciences. There, we saw a wide variety of food products that were exported to all parts of the globe.
He Yanke: Today you also went to Zibo, when you mention Zibo in Shandong, Chinese know that this is an Internet celebrity check-in place that everyone wants to go to, I wonder if you have ever tasted Zibo barbecue?
Lourenço: Of course I loved it, I tasted it at lunch. In Angola, we call it pincho (kebabs). Skewer small pieces of meat on skewers so that they can be served on the table, right? Of course, I have to say, Shandong's food is pretty good.
He Yanke: Over the past 41 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Angola, we have seen steady progress and fruitful results in economic and trade cooperation, especially under the impetus of the Belt and Road Initiative, the two sides have set an example of mutually beneficial and win-win cooperation between China and Africa. So in your opinion, how does President Xi Jinping's Belt and Road Initiative affect the economic development of Africa and Angola?
Lourenço: China has provided us with financial support for infrastructure development. Without infrastructure such as roads, ports, airports, hydropower stations, etc., there can be no development of the country. China has been doing this by providing financial support and countries repaying the loans in installments according to agreed arrangements. On the other hand, judging from our cooperation over the years, there are many strong entrepreneurs, and in the past few days, I have met with 24 large Chinese enterprises, and most of these Chinese investors are willing to take risks and make direct investments in African countries, which has benefited African countries, and of course the enterprises themselves have gained.
He Yanke: You mentioned the hydropower projects undertaken by Chinese companies, and I know that the Kaikai Hydropower Station, the largest hydropower project under construction in Africa, is located in Angola, and you have personally witnessed the process of dam interception. You also said that this project is a major strategic project related to Angola's national economy and people's livelihood, and Chinese enterprises not only undertake the construction of this hydropower station, but also help Angola to train hydropower station construction and management talents.
Lourenzo: It's a model of cooperation that works in our favor. You know, there can be no development without energy. I have said that Angola needs investment in its power generation and transmission infrastructure. Over the past few years, Angola has been building large-scale hydropower projects. So, our power generation is already higher than our domestic electricity consumption needs, and we can already export electricity. The Kaikai hydropower plant, which is under construction, will be the largest hydropower plant in Angola. Once completed, Angola's surplus electricity will increase significantly. So, people in other countries, and our neighbours, especially the SADC countries, will ultimately benefit from the surplus energy produced by the hydropower plants financed by China.
He Yanke: When it comes to Chinese companies in Angola, we see an incomplete statistic: there are more than 400 Chinese companies registered in Angola, providing more than 60,000 jobs in the country. What do you think about the changes that Chinese companies have brought to Angola? Especially at the same time, we have seen some Western media outlets that are deliberately smearing Chinese companies. How do you respond to such arguments?
Lourenço: How can I refute this kind of behavior? The Portuguese colonizers, not only the Portuguese, but also the Europeans, including the Portuguese, the British, the French. For centuries, in our country, on our continent. During that long period, they didn't build infrastructure like we do now. And all this, with the help of China and other countries, happened in less than 50 years. So this shows that these critics, they're not critics, they're slanderers. They slandered out of malice, because the facts are there, China has not invaded any African country. As we all know, the Chinese are not in Africa for colonization. We are well aware of what colonization is, China is not colonizing Africa, but cooperating with us. Therefore, we categorically refute arguments such as "be careful of the Chinese". We have to ask, aren't they the ones we need to be careful about? The Chinese have not come to our country fully armed. They come with money, they come with technology, they come with a desire to work. The result is clear: in 2002, 22 years ago, our country was in ruins. Thanks to China's help and support, today we are able to connect provinces and cities by land. Previously, our country had only air freight. Today we travel from one place to another by land. The rehabilitation of roads, bridges, ports and railways was done with the help of China. So, if these critics want to participate, then please act, please do better than China. If they have the ability to do better, then do it! Show it, and we don't believe they can do it.
He Yanke: At last year's China-Africa Leaders' Dialogue, President Xi Jinping proposed three initiatives, including the Initiative on Supporting Africa's Industrialization, China's Plan for Africa's Agricultural Modernization, and the China-Africa Talent Development Cooperation Plan, to support Africa's integration and modernization. We also note that these three initiatives are highly compatible with Angola's national development plan. At the beginning of this year, you also attended the opening ceremony of the China-aided Angola Vocational Skills Training Center, which is a specific project of the talent training plan of the two sides. So what do you think of the relevance of these three plans proposed by President Xi Jinping?
Lourenço: I think that's an important support, and it's a concrete presentation of what was discussed at FOCAC. President Xi Jinping will not let these matters discussed and decided at the forum remain at the level of meetings or documents, and he is willing to promote concrete implementation and make the plan a reality. The Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) brings China and the African continent closer together.
HE Yanke: Yes, indeed. We have seen that since the end of last year, China has implemented zero-tariff treatment for 98% of products under tariff lines for six countries, including Angola. How do you think such a move will help Angola's economic development, and in particular, what impact will it have on building a China-Africa community with a shared future?
Lourenço: Obviously, we have to applaud that. This is the exact opposite of the policy of setting up tariff barriers, which means opening up and allowing our products to enter a big market like China. We therefore appreciate and appreciate this measure.
Angola is located in southwest Africa, bordering the Republic of Congo and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Zambia to the east, Namibia to the south, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west, with a total coastline of 1,650 kilometers. The capital, Luanda, is also located on the Atlantic coast.
Although Angola is close to the equator, due to its high terrain and the influence of the cold current of the Atlantic Ocean, its climate is pleasant, and it is known as the "land of spring".
He Yanke: Angola has always been a place for veteran tourism enthusiasts. We learned that Angola has many national parks, reserves, and the second largest waterfall in Africa, Malanje Falls, and the karst Moon Bay, which has a lot of magnificent scenery. As the President of Angola, you must also be a very good tourism promoter. If you had to recommend some Angolan destinations to Chinese audiences, what would they recommend?
Lourenço: I will show Angola full of opportunities, a country full of opportunities for investors. For those who love to travel, a country with no shortage of tourist attractions. For those who want to get to know the different worlds and get to know the beauty of Africa, Angola has it all. We have sandy beaches, we have sunshine, we have beautiful waterfalls, we have wildlife. We will build a new large nature reserve, located in the southeastern part of the continent, which we call the Okavango-Zambezi Reserve Project. Visitors who are interested in large animals such as lions and elephants will have the opportunity to feast their eyes. This is the Angola we want to present to the Chinese.
He Yanke: The importance of oil and gas to Angola's economy is self-evident, but I see that you, as a changemaker, have been leading the Angolan government in various reform measures in the hope of diversifying the economy. So, what are you going to do next to reduce the dependence of the Angolan economy on oil and achieve sustainable development?
Lourenço: We should develop other areas of the economy [outside of oil], and we are working on it. Of course, this is not something that can be achieved overnight. But we have a clear direction and will stick to it. Economic diversification is of paramount importance to us. Because in this way, we can reduce imports, increase the supply of daily consumer goods and services for the people, and we will have surplus products for export. And most importantly, we can tackle, or at least dramatically reduce unemployment. Unfortunately, this problem continues to plague Angola today. Because the oil and gas industry does not create many jobs, job creation depends on other sectors of the economy, such as agriculture, fishing and tourism. Together, these are the areas that will provide many jobs for our young people.
He Yanke: Under your leadership, the Angolan government has been actively involved in some of Africa's major issues, including maintaining regional peace and stability and promoting economic development. What role do you want Angola to play in the regional and international situation?
Lourenço: Our desire is to continue in the direction we are working towards and to show other countries the benefits of peace. We don't pay lip service to it, because in theory, everyone knows that peace is better than war. We say this because we see the difference between ourselves and other countries. We have lived through war, and since then we have spent 22 years in peace. The war has prevented us from developing and building. You can see what Angola was like in 2002 and what Angola is like now. So, we're a real, textbook example. This shows that no one has anything to gain from war; Because only peace can create a favorable environment and countries develop.
He Yanke: Today's world is undergoing major changes unseen in a century, the international balance of power has been profoundly adjusted, and the world has entered a period of turbulence and change. To this end, President Xi Jinping proposed the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative. How do you understand the relevance of these three initiatives?
Lourenço: President Xi Jinping is a visionary statesman. In essence, the idea that President Xi Jinping defends about the development of the whole world is consistent with the idea of national development that I just talked about. That is, there can be no development without peace and security in the country. This idea must be extended to the whole world, and the same is true worldwide. If there is no peace and security in the world, as is happening now, look at the price of food, and the price of other commodities, which are very high. The cost of living has risen dramatically across the globe precisely because of the general lack of peace and security. Therefore, wars in Europe, the Middle East, and even our own continent on the African continent, do not contribute anything to the development of the country. Obviously, it doesn't help global development in any way.
HE Yanke: Okay, thank you very much for your time, thank you very much.
△ Angolan President Lourenço wrote an inscription after an exclusive interview with the main station
Today, the cooperation between China and Angola in various fields has already formed a blended pattern of "you have me, I have you", which has also brought tangible benefits to the people of both sides. As fellow travelers on the road to modernization, I believe that the two countries will continue to build a closer high-level China-Africa community with a shared future in the future.