The Mozambican President, Daniel Chapo, received the representatives of the governments of Portugal, Congo Brazzaville and Algeria in audience in Maputo on Thursday 16 January, as part of the strengthening of bilateral cooperation and historical relations.
According to the Mozambican Information Agency, Portugal was represented by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Paulo Rangel.
Speaking to the press minutes after the end of the audience granted to him by the head of state, the Portuguese minister explained that the meeting was aimed, among other things, at presenting a letter from the President of Portugal, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, regarding his public recognition of the election of Daniel Chapo.
Rangel also expressed the Portuguese government’s willingness to strengthen co-operation with Mozambique. ‘We wish you all the best for this mandate that is now beginning and for a strengthening of relations between Portugal and Mozambique,’ said the head of Portuguese diplomacy.
The Portuguese leader said that Mozambique and Portugal are two brotherly countries, with a shared history, that appreciate each other.
Both discussed the reforms that the President of the Republic announced at his inauguration and also talked about bilateral co-operation and the role of Portuguese companies, which in difficult times have supported national workers.
Algeria’s special envoy, Rebiga Laid, the Minister for Former Combatants, took the opportunity to pass on a message of congratulations from the President of that North African country to the head of state.
The meeting with Daniel Chapo also served to cement historical relations, given Algeria’s support for Mozambique’s liberation struggle. ‘The meeting served to exchange views on strengthening our bilateral relations, the commitment between the two leaders in this co-operation,’ said Laid.
For his part, the Minister of Public Service and Security of the Republic of Congo Brazzaville, Fitmin Ayessa, said that the Congolese President congratulated Chapo on taking office and reiterated the ties of co-operation with the country.
‘The President of the Republic of Congo Brazzaville asked me to reiterate to President Daniel Chapo that Congo and Mozambique had good relations even before independence,’ said Ayessa.
The Republic of Congo Brazzaville wants to consolidate relations with Mozambique in the economic and other areas. It should be noted that Congo is one of the countries that supported Mozambique during the national liberation struggle.
