Droupadi Murmu’s state visit to Portugal marked a significant milestone in the 50-year diplomatic relationship between India and Portugal. Ministry of External Affairs Secretary (West) Tanmaya Lal said that the visit commenced with a private meeting between President Murmu and her Portuguese counterpart, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa. The leaders later engaged in delegation-level talks.
Arriving in Lisbon on Sunday night, President Murmu’s visit was the first by an Indian head of state to Portugal in 27 years, following President K. R. Narayanan’s trip in 1998. The four-day tour, which included visits to both Portugal and Slovakia, was scheduled from April 7 to April 10.
On Monday, President Murmu paid tribute to Luís Vaz de Camões, Portugal’s national poet, revered for his epic poem Os Lusíadas, a cornerstone of Portuguese culture and history.
A key moment of the visit was the joint release of commemorative stamps by the two leaders to mark 50 years of diplomatic ties between India and Portugal. The release was followed by a joint press statement, emphasizing their shared commitment to strengthening bilateral relations.
Later on Monday, President Droupadi Murmu received the ‘City Key of Honour’ of Lisbon City, from the Mayor at a function held at the City Hall of Lisbon.
President Rebelo de Sousa then hosted a state banquet at the Palácio da Ajuda in President Murmu’s honor. One of the evening’s highlights was a music recital by renowned Portuguese artist Rao Kyao, who performed the Indian bhajan “Vaishnava Jana To” on the flute.
In addition to meetings with President de Sousa, President Murmu also met Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro at the Palácio de São Bento on Monday. Lal noted that Prime Minister Montenegro had previously met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the G20 Summit in Brazil.
President Murmu’s itinerary included a visit to the Portuguese Parliament, where she was welcomed with a guard of honor by the President of the Assembleia da República, José Pedro Aguiar-Branco. Following this, she engaged in discussions with the Speaker of Parliament and later toured the Assembly Hall.
President Murmu’s visit also featured a floral tribute to the statue of Mahatma Gandhi at Alameda Mahatma Gandhi and prayers at the Radha-Krishna Temple. She signed the Book of Honour and met members of the Portuguese delegation and President Aguiar-Branco’s cabinet.
