This Tuesday, the President of Cape Verde begins a week-long visit to Sao Tome and Principe to take part in the celebration of the 49th anniversary of independence and meet with Cape Verdean communities.
According to the office of José Maria Neves, José Maria Neves’ week-long visit to Sao Tome and Principe will also mark his first “diaspora presidency in Africa.”
The program alternates moments of the state visit with other moments of the “President in the Diaspora”, which include, above all, meetings with the Cape Verdean community, whose number is estimated at more than 70 thousand people.
Today, the Head of State of Cape Verde will be received at the People’s Palace by his counterpart Carlos Vila Nova, with whom he will hold a limited meeting, followed by a press conference, in accordance with the program published by the Sao Tome protocol.
On Wednesday, José Maria Neves’ schedule includes a visit to the National Assembly, a chocolate factory, a meeting with Prime Minister Patrice Trovada and a visit to the Biennial of Art and Culture.
On Thursday, José Maria Neves will travel to the island of Principe, where celebrations for the 49th anniversary of independence will take place on Friday.
On Saturday, the two presidents will meet again behind closed doors, still on the island of Principe, followed by a press conference.
José Maria Neves returns to the capital of Sao Tome on Sunday to carry out a programme with Cape Verdean communities across the archipelago until Tuesday.
Cooperation between the two countries was strengthened by the General Agreement on Cooperation within the framework of the first joint commission between the two countries in August 2007.
Priority sectors for cooperation include education, health, fisheries, agriculture and public administration, as well as activities that benefit the Cape Verdean community living in Sao Tome and Principe.
The second meeting of the Joint Commission took place in March 2022, and a new meeting is being prepared for later this year, as announced in April during the visit to Cape Verde of Sao Tome Prime Minister Patrice Trovoada.