President Droupadi Murmu conferred with Lisbon’s city Key of Honour, highlights growing India-Portugal partnership

New Delhi, Apr 8: In a gesture of goodwill and friendship, the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, was presented with the ‘City Key of Honour’ by the Mayor of Lisbon at a formal ceremony held at the City Hall of Lisbon. The honour symbolises the city’s recognition of President Murmu’s visit and the growing ties between India and Portugal. Expressing her gratitude, President Murmu thanked the Mayor and the citizens of Lisbon for the warm welcome and the distinguished honour. She praised the city for its reputation as a vibrant and inclusive metropolis, known for its cultural richness, openness, and deep respect for diversity.

“Lisbon’s embrace of technological innovation and digital transformation makes it a leading global city,” the President remarked. She noted that India and Portugal share common ground in these areas, offering great potential for expanded collaboration in digital public infrastructure, innovation, and the broader technological domain.

Later in the evening, President Murmu was hosted at a state banquet by the President of the Republic of Portugal, H.E. Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, at the historic Palacio da Ajuda. During her address at the banquet, she reflected on the centuries-old cultural connections between India and Portugal.

“Our shared past is etched into the architecture, language, cuisine, and cultural traditions of both countries,” she said, underscoring how these historic bonds continue to influence and enrich bilateral relations today. This year marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Portugal—an occasion President Murmu described as both “symbolic and strategic.” She emphasized that the enduring friendship between the two nations is evolving into a forward-looking partnership, rooted in mutual respect and shared aspirations.

Highlighting areas of growing cooperation, President Murmu pointed to sectors such as science and technology, defence, information technology, start-ups, education, and cultural exchange. She spoke of India’s ambitions as a knowledge-driven economy, investing in innovation, ICT, and sustainable development—areas where Portugal has emerged as a key partner. The President also acknowledged Portugal’s consistent support in enhancing India’s engagement with the European Union. She recalled that under Portugal’s EU Presidency, two landmark events in India-EU relations took place: the first India-EU Summit in 2000 and the “India-EU+27” Leaders’ Summit in May 2021.

President Murmu expressed optimism about the future of India-Portugal relations. “Our partnership is poised to grow even stronger and broader, delivering benefits not only to our peoples but also contributing to global peace, cooperation, and development,” she said. Following her engagements in Portugal, President Murmu will travel to the Slovak Republic from April 9–10, at the invitation of Slovak President Peter Pellegrini. This will be the first visit by an Indian President to Slovakia in 29 years and is expected to open new avenues for cooperation. While in Slovakia, President Murmu will hold bilateral meetings with President Peter Pellegrini, Prime Minister Robert Fico, and the Speaker of the National Council, Richard Raši. The visit is expected to deepen ties in key areas and reaffirm India’s commitment to enhancing its relations with Central European partners. In both Portugal and Slovakia, President Murmu is also scheduled to interact with members of the Indian diaspora, further strengthening the bonds between India and its global community.