Mayor of Lisbon Fernando Medina presented to Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev the honorary key to the city during a solemn welcoming ceremony. The ceremony took place within the Bulgarian Head of State’s official visit to the Republic of Portugal.
This key symbolizes the doors which should always be open, Rosen Plevneliev said at the ceremony. The Head of State pointed out that Lisbon is a city with a unique cultural heritage, in which the past and the future go hand in hand. The President said that Sofia and Lisbon are similar also in terms of their rich history and the different cultural influences which have left a mark in the two cities.
In the President’s words, the two capitals can cooperate in spheres such as innovations, information technologies, bio-medical research. “The future belongs to the educated young people and to the scholars which can change the world for the better,” the Head of State said. Rosen Plevneliev highlighted that that the first innovation eco-system in southeast Europe – Sofia Tech Park, will open doors in Bulgaria. The Head of State highlighted that Sofia ranks third among the most attractive places in Europe for start-ups after London and Dublin.
Before his meeting with the mayor of Lisbon, President Rosen Plevneliev held talks with the President of the Assembly of the Republic of Portugal Luis Ferro Rodrigues. The President of the Assembly voiced Portugal’s support for Bulgaria’s Schengen accession and highlighted the good partnership between the two countries in the EU, NATO and the Council of Europe.