Under Economic Duress, Angola Turns to China

Angolan President Jose Eduardo dos Santos began a three-day official visit to China on June 8. It is the Angolan president's fourth visit to China since taking power in 1979, though seven years have passed since his last formal trip. Dos Santos' agenda will be driven primarily by Luanda's strained economic position, resulting from the global decline in oil prices. While in Beijing, the Angolan president will likely have three main tasks: First, dos Santos will negotiate lending terms to help Angola manage the challenges to its budget, which is deeply dependent on the price of oil. Second, the president will seek continued Chinese cooperation in Angola's infrastructure projects. And third, he will push for oil and natural gas lines of credit and development agreements with Chinese energy companies.