France's Macron pushes economic ties in Angola

Traversing three capital cities in hours, French President Emmanuel Macron pursued his African tour aimed at renewing frayed ties.

In the Angolan capital Luanda, Macron chaired an economic forum, attended by more than 50 French companies, and focused on agriculture.

France has for decades been involved in the petroleum industry in the Portuguese-speaking southern African country, which is one of the continent's top two crude oil producers.

Macron's visit offered an opportunity to explore cooperation in other sectors.

"This fits in with the idea I have of this economic partnership between the African continent and France," Macron told around 100 delegates.

"Mindsets have changed," he said, adding France wanted to find solutions that benefited both parties, rather than "impose ready-made" ones.

The two governments penned an agreement to boost Angola's agricultural sector, particularly "climate resilience and water security" in addition to help revamp the coffee sector, said Macron.

Angola, which imports a large share of the food it consumes, wants to strengthen its "sovereignty" and find new sources of income in the sector, according to the French presidency.

Macron was due to meet Angolan counterpart Joao Lourenço before heading to the neighbouring Republic of Congo (also known as Congo-Brazzaville).

The visit comes as part of a drive to enhance French ties with anglophone and Portuguese-speaking Africa.