Prime Minister Luís Montenegro reiterated the goals of boosting the national consular network and, in collaboration with Brazil, promote Portuguese being recognised as an official UN language during his speech hosting the advisers to the Portuguese communities in São Bento, Lisbon. The Minister of Foreign Affairs Paulo Rangel, the Secretary of State José Cesário, and the former Secretary of State, Manuela Aguiar, attended the event.

Boosting the national consular network

The Government is "strongly committed to close relations with the Portuguese communities", Luís Montenegro claimed, noting the Council of the Portuguese Communities as "a consolidated institution (…) that no Government can relinquish".

By the end of the term in office, the Government undertakes to boost the consular network’s efficiency, strengthening it and modernising it. "It is an essential factor of support to the Portuguese communities, as well as the bridge between Portuguese public administration and the citizens, associations, and companies", the Prime Minister stressed.

Promoting Portuguese as an official UN language

The Prime Minister recalled the joint goal with the President of Brazil Lula da Silva to make Portuguese an official UN language: "If we achieve that milestone, it will be a memorable feat", he claimed, noting the importance of this recognition given the size of Brazil, with around 220 million Portuguese speakers.

Making Portuguese an official UN language would have a significant impact not just on Portugal, but the entire Portuguese-speaking world, by enhancing further the importance of the language in a global context, Montenegro added.