Lisbon Mayor presents ‘City Key of Honour’ to President Murmu
The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu, was conferred the ‘City Key of Honour’ by the Mayor of Lisbon at a special ceremony held at Lisbon City Hall on April 7, 2025. The honour was a mark of appreciation for her visit and a testament to the enduring ties between India and Portugal.
President praises Lisbon’s spirit of openness, diversity, and innovation
Speaking at the event, President Murmu expressed gratitude to the Mayor and the citizens of Lisbon for the warm gesture. She highlighted Lisbon’s global reputation as a city celebrated for its open-mindedness, cultural warmth, and progressive outlook. The President noted Lisbon’s position at the forefront of technological transformation, digital public infrastructure, and innovation, suggesting that these areas offer excellent opportunities for future India-Portugal collaboration.
Later that evening, President Murmu attended a state banquet hosted in her honour by Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa at Palacio da Ajuda. In her address, she celebrated the deep-rooted cultural and historical bonds that have united India and Portugal across centuries — reflected in architecture, languages, and cuisine.
Marking 50 years of diplomatic ties, India and Portugal eye a visionary future
The President emphasized that 2025 marks a special milestone — the 50th anniversary of India-Portugal diplomatic relations
She expressed confidence that the two nations are poised to transform their historical ties into a dynamic and forward-looking partnership, covering fields such as science, technology, defence, IT, start-ups, education, and cultural exchange.
Highlighting India’s strides as a knowledge-based economy, she underlined India’s focus on creating a sustainable and inclusive development model through innovation and technology, and reaffirmed Portugal’s role as an important partner in this journey.
President Murmu also appreciated Portugal’s continued support for India at the European Union level, recalling the historic milestones achieved under Portugal’s leadership, including the India-EU Summit in 2000 and the India-EU+27 Leadership Summit in 2021.
Ending her address on an optimistic note, the President expressed hope for even stronger India-Portugal ties in the years ahead, underscoring the mutual benefits such collaboration would offer to not only both nations but also the broader global community.