LUANDA, July 14 (Xinhua) -- Angola plans to reduce poverty aggravated by the COVID-19 pandemic, a government official said here Tuesday.

Minister of State for the Social Affairs, Carolina Cerqueira, said poverty in her country was "very high" and "tends to worsen due to the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic."

Cerqueira reiterated the country's commitment to implementing the United Nations 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals.

She said a voluntary report was presented to the UN detailing the country's progress toward meeting the goals.

She added that the UN's 2030 development agenda is in line with the African Union's Agenda 2063 and the country's own development plans.

The report was prepared as the country is beset by an economic and social crisis, mainly due to the drop in the price of oil and aggravated by the COVID-19 pandemic, she mentioned.

Cerqueira said ongoing national reforms to consolidate democracy and the rule of law, and fight corruption, would not be postponed.