MOSCOW, April 4. /TASS/. Angola’s President Joao Lourenco has awarded the republic’s state honor, the Order of Agostinho Neto, to Russian President Vladimir Putin. The short ceremony took place within the framework of the leaders’ meeting in Kremlin.

The order is named in honor of the first Angolan President Agostinho Neto. Earlier, Lourenco told reporters that through this award, he wants to express his gratitude to the Russian nation for its support "during the many years before Angola had become an independent state". "And if anyone is worthy of this order, it is definitely the president of Russia," the Angolan leader stressed.

The USSR and Angola initiated diplomatic relations on November 11, 1975, on the same day that the country proclaimed its independence from Portugal.