Brasilia, May 23, 2025 (Lusa) - Brazil's president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, and his Angolan counterpart, João Lourenço, on Friday signed several memorandums of understanding focussed on strengthening cooperation between their two countries' state oil companies, Petrobras and Sonangol respectively, in the agricultural sector, and in other fields.
The agreements were signed at the Planalto Palace in Brasilia, the official residence of Brazil's president, after a bilateral meeting between Lula da Silva and João Lourenço, who has been in Brasilia since Thursday on a three-day state visit.
In all, the two countries signed four memorandums of understanding.
One concerns the promotion and defence of the rights of people with disabilities, people affected by leprosy, and children and adolescents.
Another, signed between the Brazilian Federal Police and the Angolan National Police, aims to tackle organised and transnational crime, drug trafficking, terrorism, human trafficking, illegal migration, illegal firearms trafficking, money laundering, document forgery and cybercrime.
In the area of agriculture, the two countries signed a memorandum to strengthen family farming in southern Angola.
Finally, an agreement was signed between state oil enterprises Petrobras and Sonangol to undertake co-operation in the areas of renewable energy, oil, gas, technology and training.
Lula da Silva received his Angolan counterpart on what was the second day of Lourenço's visit to Brazil.
The Angolan president and his wife, Ana Dias Lourenço, arrived at the Planalto Palace at 10 a.m. local time, where they were received by Lula da Silva and his wife, Janja.
At the presidential palace, the two leaders held a bilateral meeting, which was preceded by a memorandum signing ceremony and a joint statement to the media.
This was followed by lunch at the Itamaraty Palace, the headquarters of Brazil's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and a meeting with representatives of rural producers.
Brazil was the first country to recognise Angola after its independence from Portugal on 11 November 1975, and the two countries have maintained a close bilateral relationship, with cooperation agreements in various areas.
Lourenço had previously been in Brazil to take part in the swearing-in ceremony of Lula da Silva, who took office for a third term in January 2023.
The Brazilian president visited Angola in August 2023 - his first visit to an African country in his current term and his third official trip to Angola, following trips in 2003 and 2007.
On Saturday, the last day of his visit to Brazil, Lourenço is to meet with ambassadors from African countries in Brazil and others from members of the Caribbean Community (Caricom).
Lourenço arrived in Brazil on Thursday for a three-day state visit at the invitation of his Brazilian counterpart. He has already held meetings with Davi Alcolumbre, president of the Federal Senate, Brazil's upper house, with Hugo Motta, president of the Chamber of Deputies, the lower house, and finally with the president of the Supreme Court, Luís Roberto Barroso.
ME/ARO // ARO.
Lusa
