Angola’s Ambassador to the United States, Agostinho Van-Dúnem, presented his Letters of Credence to His Excellency Patrick Allen, Governor-General of Jamaica, in Kingston on Tuesday (11), formally assuming his duties as Angola’s non-resident Ambassador to Jamaica.
During the ceremony, the Ambassador conveyed the customary greetings of the President of the Republic of Angola, João Lourenço, to the Government and people of Jamaica, highlighting Angola’s desire to strengthen the bonds of friendship and cooperation between the two countries.
“Our priority today is to strengthen economic cooperation in order to diversify Angola’s economy and promote sustainable and inclusive development,” the diplomat stated. He emphasised that Angola and Jamaica share strong historical and cultural ties, as well as numerous opportunities for partnership, particularly in the areas of tourism, agriculture, fisheries, and the preservation of their shared history.
The Ambassador also noted that Angola, under the leadership of President João Lourenço, currently holds the Chairmanship of the African Union. Angola’s leadership of the AU is focused on promoting peace, security, and stability across the African continent. He further highlighted Angola’s active role in conflict mediation, including between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda, as well as investments in infrastructure aimed at promoting economic growth and creating employment opportunities for Africa’s youth.
The diplomat expressed the interest of Angola’s Minister of Foreign Affairs in making an official visit to Jamaica in the near future, reciprocating the visit of Jamaica’s Minister of Foreign Affairs to Angola in 2023.
“We want to take concrete steps to strengthen our relations and advance cooperation initiatives that benefit both countries,” he added.
Finally, the Ambassador requested the support of the Jamaican Government in further strengthening bilateral relations and aligning shared interests in international forums. He also expressed his appreciation for the hospitality and warm reception extended by the Jamaican authorities and reaffirmed his commitment to working towards closer relations between the two countries.
