West African Nation is Sixth African Country to Join Community
The Republic of Equatorial Guinea officially joined the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP) at the 10thSummit of Heads of State and Government of the CPLP held on July 23, 2014 in Dili, East Timor.
“The Heads of State and Government adopt the adhesion of Equatorial Guinea as a member State of the CPLP, reiterating the commitment of the community to continue to support the authorities in full compliance with the statutory provisions of the CPLP, in terms of adoption and the effective use of the Portuguese language, the adoption of the moratorium on the death penalty until its abolition, and other interests of the CPLP in the national legislation of Equatorial Guinea,” stated the Dili Declaration, which was signed by the CPLC attending presidents.
During his remarks, President Obiang talked about the historical ties between Equatorial Guinea and the lusophone community as one of the reasons his country joined the organization, as well as the need to strengthen trade and cultural exchanges with the states of the institution.
President Obiang recalled that Equatorial Guinea was under the rule of Portugal from 1648 to 1778, when it was transferred to the kingdom of Spain by the treaties of San Ildefonso and El Pardo.
Equatorial Guinea now joins CPLP members Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Portugal, São Tomé and Príncipe and East Timor. During the summit, the presidency of the CPLP passed from Mozambique to East Timor, whose President will lead the Portuguese-speaking community until 2016.
Equatorial Guinea is the sixth African country to join the CPLC, which was founded in 1996 and now has nine member countries. The summit aims to promote cooperation among the member countries. Equatorial Guinea has been an observer nation since 2006. Portuguese will become the third official language of the country, following Spanish and French.
Under the theme “The CPLP and globalization,” the CPLP recognized the need to provide the CPLP with a strategy on economic and business cooperation to identify possible mechanisms for the support of investment and business within the Community with a view to energize the insertion of the CPLP in the context of Globalization.