Last Sunday, June 11th, H.E. the President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, met with the Portuguese Diaspora Council.

As part of the celebrations of the Day of Portugal, Camões and the Portuguese Communities, the Councilors of Portugal in the World and members of the Advisory Board of the Portuguese Diaspora, spent two hours in conversation with H.E. the President of the Republic. During the session, there were 15 interventions by members of the World Portuguese Network, addressing a wide range of topics, including arts and culture, education and research, attracting and retaining talent, economics and business, health and energy, and also the role of the Diaspora in boosting Portugal’s image in the world and the appreciation of the Diaspora within the country’s political system.

The conversation was held virtually, with the presence of a hundred members of the Portuguese Diaspora Network, representing 4 continents and 27 countries.

With H.E. the President of the Republic, at the Presidential Palace of Belém, was the Chairman of the Board of the Diaspora Council, António Calçada de Sá, who moderated the discussion throughout the session; Luís Teles, member of the Board, and António Brochado Correia, member of the Advisory Board. Online, in addition to the various Councilors , members of the Board and members of the Advisory Board, was also present the Hon. Chairman of the Board of the General Assembly of the Portuguese Diaspora Council, José Manuel Durão Barroso, who received a special mention from H.E. the President on his important contribution to the creation of the Portuguese Diaspora Council and the representation of Portugal in the world.

As the Chairman of the Board mentioned at the end of the session, this Conversation with the Diaspora was a true honor and testament to His Excellency’s enormous support of H.E. the President of the Republic towards our organization and to the great responsibility of the Council and its entire Network in responding to the vast expectations of our Hon. Head of state.