The President of Brazil announced this Saturday in Lisbon that the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (APEX) will open an office in Portugal to demonstrate the “seriousness and affection” of the relationship between the two countries.
“At the request of the Ambassador of Portugal, APEX is about to open an office here in Lisbon so that we can demonstrate the seriousness and affection of our relationship,” said Lula da Silva at the end of the 13th bilateral summit between Portugal and Brazil, which took place this Saturday at the Centro Cultural de Belem in Lisbon.
At the end of a speech in which he proclaimed that “Brazil has returned” to the international stage, Lula da Silva emphasized the historical ties that unite the two countries, and considered that “Brazilians look at Portugal not as a foreign country, but as an extension of their home.” while the Portuguese look to Brazil as an extension of their home.”
The Brazilian President arrived in Lisbon on Friday for a state visit at the invitation of the Portuguese head of state, the official program of which began this Saturday and will end on Tuesday morning.
At Belen Palace, Marcelo Rebelo de Souza and Lula da Silva held a limited meeting, later expanded to include the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Portugal and Brazil, the heads of the Civil and Military Chamber of the Portuguese President, the Chief Minister of the Secretary-General President of the Brazilian Company, and consultants and advisers from their respective offices.
This is Lula da Silva’s first trip to Europe in his third term as President of the Republic of Brazil, which began on January 1 this year.
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa attended his inauguration in Brasilia and was the first foreign head of state to greet Lulu da Silva with a long hug at a welcoming session at the Planalto Palace.