Sao Tome president begins his first state visit in Portugal | Sao Tome and Principe | DW
The program of the visit, which takes place at the invitation of the Portuguese President, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, includes a meeting with his counterpart, at Palácio de Belém, with the Prime Minister, António Costa, and a visit to the Assembly of the Republic.
The official visit begins today with a welcoming ceremony for Carlos Vila Nova in Praça do Império, with military honours, followed by a ceremony for the laying of a wreath by the President of São Tomé at the tomb of Luís Vaz de Camões.
At the end of the day, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa offers an official dinner in honor of the President of the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe, at the Ajuda National Palace.
Tribute in Lisbon
On Wednesday, Carlos Vila Nova should go to the Lisbon City Council, being received by, who will receive Carlos Moedas as keys to the city. On the same day, a lunch is planned with the administration of EuroAtlantic Airways, which operates the flights of the Sao Tome airline, STP Airways.
The following day, the Sao Tome president also has scheduled meetings with the mayor of Oeiras, Isaltino Morais, and with the provider of the Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa, Edmundo Martinho.
Carlos Vila Nova returning to his country on Friday, at the end of the day, arriving in São Tomé at dawn on Saturday.
First visit abroad
The Sao Tome President was elected in September of last year and took office on October 2, this being his first State visit abroad.
Speaking to the press, before leaving for Lisbon, the President of São Tomé and Príncipe highlighted that relations with Portugal “are historical and of friendship” and stated the objective of his visit is that he will deepen bilateral cooperation.
In December of last year, São Tomé and Príncipe and Portugal signed the new Strategic Cooperation Program (PEC) with an estimated value of 60 euros for years, being prioritized as areas of health, education and culture, social protection, work and training. profession, justice, security and defence, agriculture, fisheries, energy and environment, public finance, economy and infrastructure.
During his official visit to São Tomé and Príncipe, in December, the Prime Minister of Portugal, António Costa, praised the results of bilateral cooperation with the archipelago, highlighting the areas of health and defense.
“I want to reaffirm to the Prime Minister of São Tomé and Príncipe all our functioning at operational levels and, if so, to develop them”, stated António Costa.