Portuguese President Begins a Visit to Mozambique

The Portuguese President Aníbal Cavaco Silva on Monday begins a four-day official state visit to Mozambique at the invitation of his counterpart Armando Guebuza.

Silva is scheduled to meet with Guebuza shortly after arrival to hold talks on strengthening cooperation between their two countries.

A brief statement from Guebuza`s office says the main objectives of the visit are to strengthen the good political and friendly relations between both countries, through the promotion of a new cycle of economic and entrepreneurial cooperation, as well as valuing the common cultural heritage and by emphasizing the global strategic value of the Portuguese language.

Silva is to be accompanied by the ministers of state and foreign affairs, the national defense, education and culture, as well as by the secretary of state for foreign affairs and cooperation and the secretary of state for trade.

This is the first time in 30 years that a sitting Portuguese president visits Mozambique for bilateral talks given the intense relationships since Mozambique gained its independence from Portugal in 1975 ending 500 years of colonial domination.

Portuguese investments in Mozambique have declined in recent years.

However, the former Mozambique colonial power remains in the top 10 investors.

In 2007, Portugal stood at the 7th position in the list of largest sources of foreign direct investments to Mozambique, behind China, South Africa, UK, Mauritius, Switzerland and the USA.

Source African Press Agency

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