President calls for a new economic order in southern Africa

Angolan President Jose Eduardo dos Santos has called for a new economic order in southern Africa and a more active role by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to elevate the region to a higher level as an important player in the world’s development. Eduardo dos Santos made the appeal at the ongoing 31th SADC summit in Luanda, where he took over the rotating SADC presidency from his Namibian counterpart Lucas Pohambo and commended Namibia’s contribution to political stability and economic development in the region. The summit was held under the “Consolidating the bases for regional integration, developing the infrastructures to facilitate commercial exchange and economic liberalization”.

The new SADC president called for a sustained and balanced integration to establish to a new economic order, in which the legitimate interests of all nations can be respected and the current trade imbalances among member states should also be addressed. The Angolan leader expressed his country’s interest to boost the development of infrastructures which he said would stimulate the economic growth, trade, investment and development in southern Africa. The integration of the continent is the final goal, said the president, calling for a hard work and responsibility within the community. The Luanda summit was attended by presidents of Angola, Mozambique, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia and DR Congo, king of Swaziland, prime minister of Lesotho, vice-presidents of Tanzania, Zambia, Botswana and over 600 guests from member countries. (Xinhua)