Angolan President João Lourenço on 16 March called on Chinese companies to invest in Angola in a number of areas, including food production, the automotive industry, renewable energy, tourism and health, according to Latin American news agency LATAM.

At the Angola-China Business Summit held in Beijing, the president emphasized that cooperation between the two peoples was "the result of more than 40 years of longstanding friendship, based on the principles of mutual respect, sincere friendship and economic complementarity.

Lorenzo said that China was one of the most important destinations for Angola's main export, oil.

He noted that food production, including grains, sugar, livestock and aquaculture, was a potential area for Chinese investment in Angola.

At the same time, he highlighted Angola's growing demand for electric vehicles and photovoltaic panels, as well as opportunities for Chinese companies to invest in the battery and renewable energy sectors.

The report added that Lourenço also hoped that Chinese companies would invest in the production of certified medicines and vaccines, in order to support the construction of Angola's national health system and provide a boost to the country's economic and social growth.

The president also highlighted opportunities in the area of infrastructure, particularly the project to build a large oil refinery in Lobito, in Benguela province, the report said.

He also hoped that Chinese companies would participate as shareholders in that project, as well as in other developments in the fields of oil, banking, insurance and telecommunications.

During Lorenzo's visit to the Asian giant, the two countries signed several bilateral cooperation agreements.