LISBON: Visit of Minister of State for External Affairs, Smt. Meenakashi Lekhi to Portugal

LISBON: Minister
of State for External Affairs (MoS), Smt. Meenakashi Lekhi paid an official
visit to Portugal from 12-14 September 2021.

During the visit, MoS had an in-depth review of the bilateral relations with
her counterpart, the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Co-operation,
H.E. Mr Francisco Andre. This was followed by the signing of the milestone
Bilateral Agreement on the Recruitment of Indian Citizens to Work in Portugal.
Portugal is the first European country with which India has signed a dedicated
agreement on labour mobility. This is also the first such agreement signed by
Portugal outside the EU. The agreement sets out the procedures for recruitment
of Indian workers and professionals in Portugal and will open up new employment
opportunities for Indians further strengthening the socio-economic linkages
between the two countries.

Foreign Minister of Portugal, H.E. Mr. Augusto Santos Silva, hosted a lunch for
MoS which was also attended by Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and
Cooperation H.E. Mr. Francisco Andre and Secretary of State for Internationalisation
H.E. Mr. Eurico Brilhante Dias. Minister Silva lauded India’s mass vaccination
efforts and expressed hope to continue the momentum of high-level bilateral
visits between the two countries as the pandemic situation improves. Minister
Silva also referred to the successful India-EU Leaders Meeting in Porto in May
this year and stressed on the early implementation of its outcomes in Brussels.
MoS called for greater focus on enhancing and diversifying bilateral economic
and commercial relations with Portugal and reiterated the urgency regarding
mutual recognition of vaccinations and vaccine certificates for resumption of
political, business and people-to-people engagements.

In her meeting with the Minister of Culture of Portugal, H.E. Dr. Graca
Fonseca, MoS explored avenues of cooperation in the field of culture such as
exchange of youth and literary delegations, establishment of Maritime Heritage
Gallery at Lothal under the MOU signed with Portugal in February 2020, capacity
building in heritage conservation, archives and museology and training of
trainers in related skills. MoS also met the Executive Secretary of the
Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP) H.E. Dr. Zacarias da Costa.
This was the first high level interaction between India and the CPLP, since
India’s joining the CPLP as an Associate Observer at the Luanda Summit in July
2021. MoS conveyed India’s commitment towards intensifying cooperation with
Lusophone countries as per the expressed objectives of the CPLP.

During the visit, MoS also interacted with the Indian diaspora and participated
in the Azadi ka Amrut Mahotsav celebrations marking the rich cultural heritage
of India organised by the Embassy of India in Lisbon. She spoke about the role
of the diaspora community in preserving Indian culture and building strong
bonds between India and the world in the spirit of Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam. MoS
visited the Mahatma Gandhi Park and paid floral tributes to the Mahatma and
later visited the Hindu Temple.

India’s traditional relations with Portugal are marked by warmth and friendship
and have assumed dynamism in recent years with mutual understanding and support
from the leaderships. The two countries have active and growing cooperation in
the field of economy & business, science, defence, people to people
relations and culture, despite disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. The
visit, which was the first Ministerial-level from India since the onset of the
pandemic, provided further impetus to India’s growing relations with Portugal
and the EU.