Lisbon, Oct. 8, 2026 (Lusa) - Portugal's president called on Thursday for a «frank discussion» among CPLP members about the challenges facing this community and said he «would very much like to see strong, joint action» at sea.
António José Seguro, speaking at the opening of a symposium marking the 30th anniversary of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP), at the Belém Cultural Centre in Lisbon, also called for everyone's commitment to further promoting the Portuguese language, «both domestically and on the international stage», with the aim of making it an official language of the United Nations.
At the start of his address, Seguro stated that «the Portuguese-speaking world is a priority of Portuguese foreign policy, uniting all organs of state, the various levels of public administration and civil society as well».
«As a sign of my commitment to this collective endeavour to deepen the ties of the Portuguese-speaking world, the CPLP was the first international organisation I visited after taking office. And it was also a CPLP country that was the destination of my first state visit, last July, to Cabo Verde,» he emphasised.
Regarding the CPLP's 30th anniversary, Seguro considered that «a positive assessment» should be made, taking into account factors such as the growth in the number of member countries and observers within the community since its foundation, the promotion of the Portuguese language, the cooperation that has developed in «virtually all sectors» and the influence of «the voice of the Portuguese-speaking world on the international stage».
«Together we are stronger,» he argued.
He then spoke of the challenges facing the CPLP, at a time when the community suspended Guinea-Bissau following the military coup in November last year, and Timor-Leste replaced it as the organisation's temporary president.
Seguro called on everyone to commit, first and foremost, to strengthening the promotion of the Portuguese language, reiterating the aim of having it elevated to the status of an official language of the United Nations (UN).
«[Commitment] to reinforcing the values and principles on which our CPLP is founded and to frank discussion amongst ourselves of the challenges we face and the opportunities that, together, we can identify and promote,» he added.
Thirdly, he proposed «strengthening cooperation in areas of strategic importance to the community, such as the oceans» and said that he «would very much like to see strong, joint action» by the CPLP in this area, as well as «an ever-closer connection with the younger generations, who will bear the responsibility of keeping the new CPLP alive».
The president also called for a joint commitment «to the CPLP's role as a force for dialogue, peace and stability, in an increasingly dynamic world and across the various arenas available to us on the international stage».
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