The President of the Republic and the Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, exchanged compliments this Friday on the role of each and their respective country in the world, particularly in climate action and the defense of Ukraine.

Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and Justin Trudeau made brief statements to journalists at the start of a working meeting, followed by lunch, in a Toronto hotel.

“We work closely as NATO partners and your position and that of Portugal in relation to Ukraine, facing Russia and in such a strong defense of peace, is really important,” Justin said Trudeau, speaking to the Portuguese president.

Justin Trudeau, who spoke in English and French, highlighted the Portugal’s participation in the Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries (CPLP) and considers that it has played a leading role in the field of the environment and oceans.

In terms of bilateral relations, he underlined: “We have doubled our trade with Portugal following the free trade agreement. [entre a União Europeia e o Canadá]CETA, which is excellent news. »

The Canadian Prime Minister also praised the “incredible success” of Portuguese and Portuguese-origin emigrants and their contribution to Canada.

“They built this country,” said Trudeau, who described the The Portuguese diaspora is “incredibly strong”.

Trudeau’s invitation to the Web Summit

Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, who spoke next, praised Justin Trudeau, saying that, “in the case of Ukraine, in NATO and in climate action, in the oceans, in the biodiversity, in the energy transition and also in digital technology”, the Canadian Prime Minister, his government and Canada as a whole have played an “exemplary role”.

The Portuguese head of state took this opportunity to reaffirm the invitation to Justin Trudeau to visit Portugal in November this year and to be “the great figure of Web Summit opening” of this technology conference.

Without yet responding to the invitation, Justin Trudeau declared that the Portuguese Prime Minister, António Costa, had already spoken to him on the subject: “Yes, António spoke to me.”

Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa told Trudeau that “the Portuguese community, as you know, supports him a lot and is Thank you very much Canada“.

“We are grateful to the Portuguese community,” replied the Canadian Prime Minister.

According to the President of the Republic, the Portuguese community is “strengthening”, as are the links between Portugal and Canada “in the areas of trade, investments, technology, energy and digital transition”.

“And then, of course, we are former partners, it’s almost a kind of eternity, a brotherhood, it’s more than just being partners, at the United Nations, but especially to NATO, supporting Ukraine“, added the head of state, recalling that he was in Ukraine in August.

Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, who spoke in English, French and Portuguese, designated Justin Trudeau as “the first to defend Ukraine, its territorial integrity, its sovereignty and its independence.”

“We are together for Ukraine, together in NATO, together in climate action, in the oceans, in biodiversity, anything more progressive“, he summarized.

The President of the Republic arrived in Canada on Wednesday for a five-day official visit dedicated to the Portuguese emigrant communities of this country.

His delegation includes the Minister of Foreign Affairs, João Gomes Cravinho, and the deputies João Azevedo e Castro, from the PS, Francisco Pimentel, from the PSD, Diogo Pacheco de Amorim, from Chega, Rodrigo Saraiva, parliamentary leader of the Liberal Initiative, Bruno Dias, from the PCP, and José Soeiro, from the Bloco de Esquerda.