A memorandum of understanding has been signed between the Angolan government and Venezuela's Bolivariana University for the training of Angolan students on environment protection programs in the university, the official news agency Angop reported on Thursday.

The memo was signed in the Luanda on Wednesday by Angolan Environment Minister Maria de Fatima Jardim and Principal of Bolivariana University Pudencio Chacon as part of the cooperation with the Venezuelan university on earth preservation and of technical and scientific cooperation to train Angolan students on environmental matters, Angop said.

The Angolan minister said the memo will also consolidate the relationship with the Venezuelan government on environment protection.

"With this memorandum it is intended a consolidation of the relationship with the Venezuelan government, mainly because it is through the government, following an invitation from us, that the Venezuelan university comes to Angola to assist institutionally with training in the environment area," she said.

She revealed that memo did not limit the number of Angolan students to be trained in the university which provides bachelor and master degrees though there is the information that the program might start with 30 Angolan students.

For his part, Pudencio Chacon said, "There is a great interest in executing actions in Angola, from academic issues, investigation to research, as well as in specialized technical assistance."

He said his university has a training program in the area of environment which lasts four years for bachelor degree and two years for master degree.

The signing ceremony was also attended by the Venezuelan ambassador to Angola, Jesus Alberto Garcia. Endi