By Xinhua
LUANDA, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) — Angola is taking on the rotating presidency of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) for the 2023-2024 term starting Thursday.
Angola’s President Joao Lourenco assumed the presidency from the President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo Felix Tshisekedi during the 43rd Summit of Heads of State and Government which convened Thursday in Luanda, the capital of Angola.
This ceremonial shift was symbolized through an exchange of badges. This is Angola’s third time undertaking the organization’s rotating presidency. It previously held this role during the 2002-2003 and 2011-2012 periods.
Held under the theme “Human and Financial Capital: The Key Drivers for Sustainable Industrialization in the SADC Region,” Lourenco underscored the focal point of this summit, which revolves around fostering sustainable industrialization and promoting inclusive development within the regional community. This development strategy emphasizes the pivotal role of human and financial capital.
This photo taken on Jan. 12, 2023, shows the cityscape of Luanda, the capital of Angola. (Xinhua/Chen Cheng)
“Angola will seek to develop a presidency that meets the expectations of our community’s citizens and further strengthens the organization’s socioeconomic and political development project, aiming to achieve the SADC Vision 2050. This vision envisions a region characterized by political and social stability, peace, economic development, justice, and freedom for its citizens,” he stated.
Headquartered in Gaborone, Botswana, the SADC is an intergovernmental organization comprising 16 member states. It is dedicated to socioeconomic cooperation and integration, as well as collaborative efforts in politics and security among the countries of southern Africa. ■
