The Ministers of Tourism of the Portuguese Speaking Countries Community (CPLP) opened Tuesday in Angola to debate development of tourism.

The three-day conference will focus on the discussion of tourism's role in consolidating co-operation among the eight countries of CPLP, namely Angola, Brazil, Portugal, Cape-Verde, Guinea Bissau, Mozambique, Sao Tome and Principe and East Timor.

The CPLP ministers meeting will also be used to balance the results of the previous meeting, held in Portugal, which is intended to review points on "common action" among the countries of the community.

Angola's Hotels and Tourism minister, Dinho Chingunji, inaugurated the event, the third meeting of the Ministers of Tourism with the CPLP. According to the Angolan minister, the CPLP should further strengthen the links of friendship and cooperation, seeking to be in a better position to meet the challenges of this world of high competition, where regional blocks and community are intensifying their action.

He said he expected the ministers to sign cooperation accords in the domain of tourism among the members of the community.  

(Xinhua News Agency October 12, 2005)