Angola’s Ambassador to China, João Garcia Bires, has called on his country’s youth to work actively to implement the Government’s national development programme, Angolan news agency Angop reported.

Mr Bires was speaking in the Chinese capital, Beijing, during a talk held to celebrate the 40 years since Angola’s independence. He was addressing an audience of Angolan students and diplomats.

According to Angop, there are currently more than 300 Angolan students attending courses in China.

Activities are being held in several Chinese cities to celebrate Angola’s 40th anniversary of independence. The two countries have been strengthening bilateral co-operation.

Bilateral trade between China and African nation reached US$15.6 billion in the first nine months of the year, according to official data from China’s General Administration of Customs.

Angola’s President, José Eduardo dos Santos, paid an official visit to China in June. During the trip, the two countries sealed financing deals worth US$6 billion; a fact announced later by the Angolan Government.