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| Edited By: |Source: PTI |Updated: Jun 24, 2017, 10:45 PM IST
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today held talks with his Portuguese counterpart Antonio Costa and discussed ways to further intensify bilateral relations.
Modi, who arrived here on the first leg of his three- nation tour, said his brief visit will further strengthen relations between India and Portugal.
The two sides are expected to sign some agreements.
Departing from protocol, Portuguese Foreign Minister Augusto Santos Silva received Prime Minister Modi at the airport earlier in the day.
Modi is the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Portugal on a bilateral trip, Baglay said.
Before leaving for Lisbon, Modi had said during his meeting with Costa, the two leaders will build on their recent discussions and review the progress of various joint initiatives and decisions.
Portuguese Prime Minister Costa tweeted this is an excellent opportunity to review the implementation of the accords agreed during his India visit and sign new agreements.
Costa had visited India in January this year.
The highlight of Modi's four-day three-nation visit will be the US leg as Modi will be meeting President Donald Trump for the first time on June 26 in Washington.
From the US, he will travel to the Netherlands.
PM Modi leaves Lisbon. On way to Washington DC to meet US President Donald Trump.
#Lisbon, Portugal: PM Narendra Modi emplanes for Washington DC, USA pic.twitter.com/EZ7PkC4JIs
— ANI (@ANI_news) June 24, 2017
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today offered prayers at the Radha Krishna temple in Lisbon and interacted with prominent people of the Indian community.
The Hindu-Portuguese community has over 9,000 members, most of them originated from the ex-colonies held by the Portuguese.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today thanked Portugal for sharing a digital version of 12,000 documents comprising exchange of letters between Goa and Portugal in the 17th century.
Modi, who is here on a brief visit, said that these letters would help researchers in India.
The Portuguese conquest of Goa occurred when the governor of Portuguese India Afonso de Albuquerque captured the city in 1510.
Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa welcomed PM Narendra Modi in Gujarati. During the joint press briefing, Costa said that both India and Portugal had signed a number of agreements to promote exchange between youth.
Costa added science is going to be one of the most important areas for our cooperation in the future: Portuguese PM Antonio Costa, adding that along with the maritime link, the digital link will join both nations.
PM Modi added that the nations will deepen their cooperation in countering terrorism and violent extremism.
/p>#WATCH LIVE: Press statement by Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in Lisbon https://t.co/9VpxZyKE1Y
— ANI (@ANI_news) June 24, 2017
Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets Porguguese PM Antonio Costa
The streets of Lisbon had been decorated to welcome PM Modi.
Lisbon gets ready to welcome PM @narendramodi pic.twitter.com/78cZPaEDvK
— Gopal Baglay (@MEAIndia) June 24, 2017
