Message of Foreign Affairs Secretary

Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr. 

on the Occasion of the 20th Anniversary of Philippine-Angola Diplomatic Relations

On 14 September 2001, the Republic of the Philippines and the Republic of Angola signed a Joint Communiqué officially establishing their diplomatic relations.

Although our formal relations are fairly young, the ties between our countries go further back when Filipinos arrived in Angola in the 1970s amid a very challenging time in Angola's history. These Filipinos worked tirelessly in vital industries that helped the economy as Angola moved towards self-determination and eventual nation-building.  

To this day, Filipinos in Angola continue to do their share in the country's development. There are around 1,500 of them working in Angola's professional, technical, production, and service sectors. Not a few have established their own enterprises and made Angola their second home.  I thank the Angolan Government for making them feel welcome and for promoting their welfare.

As we celebrate this milestone in our bilateral relations, let us continue to build on the goodwill and partnership that have been forged between Filipinos and the Angolan people over the years. May we also seek new frontiers in our countries' cooperation and exchanges for our mutual benefit.   

On this auspicious occasion, I wish to extend my warm greetings and best wishes to the Government and people of the Republic of Angola. 

Mabuhay!