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The Head of State meets with members of the Bulgarian community during his official visit to Portugal

 

Thanks to the Bulgarians in Portugal and their contribution to that country's society, the bond between the two countries and peoples is even stronger. This is what President Rumen Radev told members of the Bulgarian community in the Republic of Portugal, where he was on a formal visit at the invitation of his counterpart, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa. As a sign of attention to Bulgaria, the President of Portugal honoured the meeting, held at the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Lisbon, with his presence.

 

The fact that the Portuguese President is here is not only a gesture towards Bulgaria, but also an expression of the great friendship that binds us, a recognition for the entire Bulgarian community in Portugal, the Bulgarian Head of State said. He pointed out that Rebelo de Sousa was a great friend of Bulgaria. Radev expressed his gratitude to his compatriots in Portugal for promoting the name of the homeland in the best way with their leading role in a number of fields such as science, teaching, medicine, economy, IT, sports and culture. 

 

Rebelo de Sousa said that out of dozens of state visits, only two or three times had the Portuguese President attended a reception given in honour of a foreign President's visit to Portugal. He highlighted the excellent bilateral relations and the friendship on which they were built and thanked the members of the Bulgarian community in Portugal for their contribution to the advancement of the country.

 

According to official data from SEF, Portugal's Immigration and Borders Service, at the end of 2019, the number of long-term Bulgarian residents in Portugal was 6,839. According to unofficial data, their number is much higher, as some of the Bulgarians have already obtained Portuguese citizenship. Their concentration is most significant in and around the capital Lisbon, as well as in the cities with highly developed tourism in the south of Portugal. 

 

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In his speech, the president stressed the relationship between the two countries, based on friendship, mutual trust, and respect