1. Bilateral Political Relationship
The People's Republic of China and the Republic of Angola established diplomatic relations on January 12, 1983. Since then, relations between the two countries have developed smoothly. In March 2024, President Joao Lourenco paid a state visit to China, during which the two heads of state announced the elevation of bilateral relations to comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.
In recent years, the two countries enjoyed frequent high-level exchanges. Main visits from the Chinese side include: Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi (January 2018, then Minister of Foreign Affairs), Vice Chairperson of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress Wang Chen (May 2019), Vice Chairman of the CPC Central Military Commission and General of the Air Force Xu Qiliang (June 2019), Member of the Political Bureau of CPC Central Committee and Party chief of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee Yin Li (September 2023), etc.
Main visits from the Angolan side include: President Joao Lourenco (FOCAC Beijing Summit in September 2018, state visits to China in October 2018 and in March 2024), MPLA Secretary General Neto (April 2019), Special Envoy of President and Foreign Minister Augusto (July 2019), Foreign Minister Tete Antonio (December 2023 and September 2024), etc.
2. Bilateral Economic and Trade Relations
Based on the principle of equality and mutual benefit, business cooperation between the two countries continued to deepen in recent years. The two governments signed a trade agreement in 1984, established the Joint Economic and Trade Commission mechanism in 1988, and signed an agreement on promotion and reciprocal protection of investments in 2023. Angola is an important trading partner of China in Africa. In 2024, bilateral trade volume between China and Angola is US$20.88 billion, of which China exports US$3.24 billion to Angola and imports US$17.64 billion from Angola. In December 2024, China started to give Angola zero-tariff treatment for 100 percent tariff lines.
3. Exchanges and Cooperation in Other Areas
China and Angola have carried out various forms of cooperation in the fields of culture, education, health, science and technology, etc., and achieved fruitful results. The two countries have signed cultural cooperation agreement, mutual visa exemption agreement for diplomatic and official passport holders, visa facilitation agreement, air transport agreement and extradition treaty. Since 2009, China has sent 5 batches of medical teams to Angola, with a total number of 70 personnel.
4. Important Bilateral Agreements
Joint Communique on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations Between the People's Republic of China and the People's Republic of Angola (January 12, 1983)
Trade Agreement between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the People's Republic of Angola (1984)
Joint Communique of the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Angola (2006)
Joint Statement between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Angola on Establishment of a Strategic Partnership (2010)
Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the People’s Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Angola on Cooperation within the Framework of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road Initiative (2018)
Agreement between the Government of the People’s Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Angola on Promotion and Reciprocal Protection of Investments (2023)
Joint Statement on the Establishment of a Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership between the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of Angola (2024)