The Angolan and Russian governments have signed six cooperation accords during Russian President Dmitri Medvedev one-day official visit to Angola at the weekend, signaling a new high historical level of bilateral cooperation in various sectors between Angola and Russia.

After meeting with his Russian counterpart Dmitri Medvedev on Friday, Angolan President Jose Eduardo dos Santos described the Russian president's visit as "positive" and "very profitable" to both sides.

"It was very impressing the way the Russian leader talked about African matters, revealing not only the knowledge but also his vision and personal engagement in seeking solutions and contributions to improve the security situation in our continent," Dos Santos said.

"It was decided to be held periodic meetings so that we may take meaningful contribution to improve the international situation," he added.

According to the Angolan head of state, more meetings will be held not only at the presidential level, but also at various levels of governments.

Meanwhile, Angolan President Dos Santos also appealed to the Russian government for establishing a mutually advantageous strategic partnership with Angola, saying that he believes it is possible to establish partnership relations between the two countries, including a strategic partnership on the basis of equalities which benefit the both sides.

President Dos Santos admitted that although he has observed progresses, actions are far beyond the possibilities, and calling for taking more feasible actions to promote bilateral cooperation during the process of Angola's national economic reconstruction program which started in 2002 after the end of the 27-year civil war which left 1 million people dead and 4 million others displaced.

Russian President Dimitri Medvedev echoed his Angolan counterpart, saying that Russia will from now on pay greater attention to economic relation with Angola, mainly in the area of investments.

He said there are good perspectives for the scientific technical, military and hydrocarbon and energy cooperation, among others, between the two countries.

"Our interests are common because there are important producers of hydrocarbons," he said, adding that Angola, the presidency of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), is the most important oil producer in Africa, therefore it is important to "coordinate our action in the context of the world crisis."

The Russian president also promised to help Angola to modernize industries such as manufacturing and telecommunication sectors and launch an Angolan telecom satellite called "AngoSat" whose contract is estimated at 327 million U.S. dollars.

The Russian president stressed that both Russia and Angola share similar points of view related to international issues, particularly those on the African continent.

The bilateral relations between Angola and Russia have developed on the basis of equality and mutual benefits in accordance with the cooperation accords signed between Angolan with former Soviet Union which can date back to the period of Angola's anti-colonialism struggle during the 1960s and early 1970s.

In late 2006, Angolan President Jose Eduardo dos Santos paid an official visit to Russia, which resulted in the signing of 10 accords between the two countries, including the Memorandum of Mutual Compensation Between Russian Lukoil Overseas Holding Company and Angolan State-Owned Oil Company Sonangol, the Protocol of Cooperation Between ALROSA Co., Ltd. And Angola Diamond Company Endiama, and the Angolan-Russian Extradition Treaty.

Source:Xinhua