José Manuel Barroso, President of the EC, receives Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, President of Equatorial Guinea. Photo Credit: World News
3 Dec 2010 20:40 Africa/Lagos
President Obiang Strengthening Bilateral Cooperation With Europe and Africa
Sustainable Development and Growth the Focus of Africa-EU Summit
MALABO, Equatorial Guinea, Dec. 3, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As part of his activities surrounding the 3rd African-European Summit in Libya, President Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea (Republica de Guinea Ecuatorial) held meetings with world leaders to discuss cooperation and progress in the country. Equatorial Guinea has been making significant preparations in advance of the African Union Summit next year and moving toward achieving the U.N. Millennium Goals.
The purpose of the African-European Summit was to discuss investment, economic growth and job creation and create a joint strategy to integrate models of sustainable development and growth for Africa and Europe.
This was the third summit between the African continent and the European Union following those celebrated in Egypt in 2000 and Portugal in 2007. President Obiang held several important meetings with African leaders and with the main representatives of the European delegations. In a meeting with the minister of foreign affairs of France, Michele Alliot-Marie, the two discussed the wish of the French government for the country to increase bilateral cooperation and to focus more attention on the training of human resources. President Obiang later met with his Italian counterpart, Silvio Berlusconi.
Most of the people who met with President Obiang offered their support during the next African Union Summit and showed their support for Equatorial Guinea's work in the fight to achieve the Millennium Development Goals and those of the country's Horizon 2020 development plan.
During a meeting with the Portuguese prime minister, Jose Socrates, President Obiang discussed strengthening the relations that exist with Portugal and other aspects related to the possible entrance of Equatorial Guinea in the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPLP).
Similarly, President Obiang also held meetings with Ali Bongo Ondimba, his Gabonese counterpart from the co-organizing country of the 2012 African Cup of Nations, and with John Evans Atta Mills, president of the Republic of Ghana, with whom he has excellent relations. President Obiang also met with the heads of state of Mozambique and Eritrea.
Also in attendance at the summit were President Obiang's minister in charge of missions, Alejandro Evuna Owono; the vice minister of foreign affairs, international cooperation and Francophonie, Eustaquio Nseng Esono; the ambassador of the Permanent Mission for Equatorial Guinean to the African Union, Ruben Maye Nsue Mangue and the ambassador of Equatorial Guinea in Cairo, Benigno Pedro Matute Tang.
About Equatorial Guinea
The Republic of Equatorial Guinea (Republica de Guinea Ecuatorial) is the only Spanish-speaking country in Africa, and one of the smallest nations on the continent. In the late-1990s, American companies helped discover the country's oil and natural gas resources, which only within the last five years began contributing to the global energy supply. Equatorial Guinea is now working to serve as a pillar of stability and security in its region of West Central Africa. The country will host the 2011 Summit of the African Union. For more information, visit http://www.guineaecuatorialpress.com.
This has been distributed by Qorvis Communications, LLC on behalf of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea. More information on this relationship is on file at the United States Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.
SOURCE Republic of Equatorial Guinea
CONTACT: David Mayorga, +1-703-489-4089, for the Republic of Equatorial Guinea
Web Site: http://www.guineaecuatorialpress.com
