New Delhi: President Draupadi Murmu left for Portugal's capital Lisbon on Sunday on the first leg of her two-nation state visit to Portugal and Slovakia. The purpose of this visit is to strengthen relations with both the countries. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal wrote on the social media platform X, 'President Draupadi Murmu left for a historic state visit to Portugal and the Slovak Republic. This is the first state visit by the President of India to these two countries in the last more than 25 years. These visits will further expand India's multifaceted relations with two important partners of the European Union.'
During her visit to Portugal, President Murmu will meet the European country's President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and hold delegation level talks. She will also meet Portugal's Prime Minister Luis Montenegro and National Assembly Speaker Jose Pedro Aguiar-Branco. This is the first visit of an Indian President to Portugal after a gap of 27 years. It comes at a time when India and Portugal are celebrating 50 years of re-establishment of diplomatic relations. India and Portugal enjoy historic and friendly bilateral ties, which have transformed into a modern and dynamic partnership in the last few years. The visit will provide further impetus to India's growing ties with Portugal.
In Slovakia, President Murmu will hold bilateral meetings with the country's President Peter Pellegrini and Prime Minister Robert Fico. This will be the first visit of an Indian President to Slovakia in 29 years. The President's State Visit will provide an opportunity to further strengthen and broaden bilateral ties between India, Portugal and Slovakia and will also strengthen India-EU relations
