Portuguese President Begins Three-Day State Visit to Cabo Verde
Portuguese President António José Seguro commenced a three-day state visit to Cabo Verde on Monday, arriving in the capital city of Praia. His initial official act involved laying a wreath at the Amílcar Cabral Memorial, followed by a meeting with his Cabo Verdean counterpart, José Maria Neves, at the Presidential Palace, concluding with a joint press conference and an official dinner hosted by President Neves. On Wednesday, President Seguro is scheduled to address the National Assembly in a solemn session and inaugurate the Cabo Verde-Portugal Economic Forum at the central bank's auditorium. This forum will include key figures from both governments, such as Cabo Verde's Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Economy, Manuel da Rosa and António Baptista, and Portugal's Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Ana Isabel Xavier. The President's agenda also includes meetings with Prime Minister Francisco Carvalho and the Mayor of Praia, Fernando Pinto, who will present Seguro with the keys to the city. A significant focus of the visit is bilateral cooperation in maritime security, highlighted during a luncheon aboard the Portuguese Navy ship Bartolomeu Dias. The itinerary also features a visit to the Museum of Resistance in Tarrafal, where both presidents will honor victims of the concentration camp, and a tour of Cidade Velha, a UNESCO World Heritage site. On the final day, President Seguro will travel to Boa Vista island to attend the opening of the V International Conference of the Ocean Decade, focusing on the "Blue Economy: Sustainable Pathways." His activities on Boa Vista include receiving the keys to Sal Rei, visiting the Morro de Areia Natural Reserve, and exploring a local arts and culture center. Before returning to Praia, Seguro and Neves will hold another joint press conference. In Praia, Seguro's final engagements include visiting the Agostinho Neto Hospital's Hemodialysis Center, which receives Portuguese support, and the Praia Technology Park (Techpark) to learn about NOSi, a Cabo Verdean IT company, and Visionware, a Portuguese tech firm. The visit concludes with a reception for the Portuguese community at the Portuguese School in Praia.
This state visit underscores the ongoing diplomatic and economic ties between Portugal and Cabo Verde, particularly in areas like maritime security and sustainable economic development, symbolized by the focus on the "Blue Economy." The exchange of city keys and visits to cultural and historical sites highlight efforts to strengthen people-to-people connections and acknowledge shared heritage. The inclusion of technological and economic forums suggests a forward-looking agenda aimed at fostering investment and innovation, leveraging Portugal's experience and Cabo Verde's strategic position. Future cooperation will likely depend on aligning national development strategies with global trends in digitalization and environmental stewardship, ensuring that economic growth benefits are broadly shared and contribute to long-term resilience.
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