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Zambia and Angola have agreed to explore cooperation in oil and gas following a two-day visit to Lusaka by Angolan President Joao Lourenco, a joint communiqué issued on Friday said.

The Angolan leader arrived in Zambia on Wednesday and held talks with his Zambian counterpart President Edgar Lungu.

The communiqué said the leaders of the two southern African countries agreed to cooperate in the oil and gas sectors given the resource endowment and expertise that Angola possesses and the readily available market in Zambia.

The two leaders further agreed to expedite plans for the construction of an oil pipeline from Angola to Zambia as well as renewed commitments to the development of transport infrastructure linking the two neighboring countries.

The communiqué said the two leaders also underscored the need to increase the levels of bilateral trade.

Presidents Lungu and Lourenco also witnessed the signing of five agreements that included on the exemption of visas, security and public order, cooperation and mutual administrative assistance in customs matters and a protocol on agricultural cooperation.