Ambassador stresses that Portugal is experiencing “the highest point” of relations with France – Notícias de Coimbra
“Many accept it and that was a winning bet on our part. I also paid attention to ‘clusters’ that must be cherished, keeping an eye on more traditional sectors, such as technology, aeronautics, space and oceans. And so we established networks of people interested in Portugal”, he explained.
Currently, France is Portugal’s second largest customer in terms of exports, but also at a diplomatic level, partly due to the weight of the Portuguese community in France, as relations are in good health.
“My interlocutors knew that they were not just talking to a representative of a State allied to the European Union, with a well-known economic relationship, but there was always this question of having an important community in France with an interesting political dimension”, explained.
Having an embassy on Rua Noisiel, in the 16th arrondissement of Paris, Jorge Torres Pereira lent Levy’s private hotel – about which he even published a book during his mission – to various unusual events such as fashion shows, participating in wines or art exhibitions.
“It is clear that embassies today cannot be like they were 100 years ago and, in a way, the architectural beauty of this embassy creates additional responsibilities. We live in a time when there has to be a justification for this framework that we have here, it cannot be just for classic activities and, part of the acceptance of the continued existence of a residence of this type, involves an opening”, he justified.
The use of the embassy for the most different events, receiving figures such as ministers and presidents of large CAC 40 companies [índice da bolsa]to young digital influencers and community personalities, it is also for this diplomat a metaphor for Portugal’s position in the world, being a country with a “solid” history, but not afraid to reinvent itself.
As for French international policy, and without wanting to expand, the Portuguese ambassador said he was optimistic about the European future of France, despite the President, Emmanuel Macron, not being able to apply for a new mandate in 2027 and Marine Le Pen now holding a group of 89 deputies in the National Assembly.
“I am a convinced Europeanist and I think that we all congratulate ourselves on the courage of the candidate Emmanuel Macron to put Europe as one of the themes of his campaign and I think that this side of continuing the necessary work in France for the continuation of the European project is not concerned”, declared Jorge Torres Pereira.
Jorge Torres Pereira will be replaced in the coming days by José Augusto de Jesus Duarte, until now the Portuguese ambassador to China.