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Photo:Deutsche Welle
President Filipe Nyusi stated on Wednesday that Mozambique will work with the other member states of the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries (CPLP) on mechanisms to facilitate the movement of people and goods within the community.
The President was speaking at the end of the CPLP summit of heads of state and government, which took place over two days on Sal Island in Cape Verde under the theme “Culture, people, and oceans”.
Quoted in the daily newspaper “Noticias”, President Nyusi stressed, “I express the complete willingness of my country to collaborate on the realisation of this timely programme, which will certainly contribute to making our organisation more dynamic and effective in achieving its objectives”.
President Nyusi stressed that the issue is of great importance and stated it implies that each of the member states will implement reciprocal measures so that citizens are exempt from visa requirements. He also noted the need to pay more attention to the private sector so it can contribute to strengthening the economies in the community.
Free movement is also intended to create conditions for a better circulation of art and culture, knowledge, and innovation. These are expected to have an important impact on development in the member states.
Promoting free movement formed one of four resolutions adopted during the summit which will form the basis for the organisation’s programme over the next two years.
The summit marked the handover of the CPLP presidency from Brazil to Cape Verde. A document presented by the Prime Minister of Cape Verde, Ulisses Correia Silva, noted that to achieve the common goal of improved mobility within the next two years it will be necessary to take careful but determined steps, taking into account the specific realities of each country.
He added that another challenge is to promote culture as a strategic resource and exploit its full potential for development.
The heads of state agreed on an agenda to push this forward, based on the need to strengthen the role of the Portuguese language as the glue in promoting the diffusion of a common heritage.
The summit also agreed that the blue economy, the sustainable use of ocean resources, provides an opportunity to increase economic growth, and support sustainable and inclusive development in all the member states.
Shortly before the end of the summit, Francisco Ribeiro Teles was elected as the next secretary general of CPLP. In 2019 he will replace Sao Tome’s Maria Silveira. Teles is a Portuguese diplomat who has held posts in Brazil, Italy, Cape Verde, and Angola.
The next summit will be held in 2020 in the Angolan capital city Luanda.
CPLP is composed of nine members: Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Mozambique, Portugal, Sao Tome and Principe and Timor-Leste (East Timor).
During his visit, President Nyusi was accompanied by Foreign Minister Jose Pacheco; Minister of the Sea, Inland Waters and Fisheries, Agostinho Mondlane; Mozambique’s Ambassador to Portugal, Joaquim Bule; and members of the presidential staff.
Following the summit, President Nyusi travelled to Rwanda for a state visit which will take place from 19 to 21 July.
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