The president of the Assembly of the Republic, Augusto Santos Silva, told Lusa this Saturday, in Toronto, that on his first official visit to Canada he brought a message of solidarity to the Luso-Canadian community.
Portugal has 10.5 million people residing in its European territory and has more than five million residing in practically every country in the world. If we consider the descendants of the Portuguese and the Portuguese, this is the number. More than five million of our compatriots who live in practically every country in the world, and half a million live here in Canada,” said Santos Silva.
The president of the Assembly of the Republic was speaking during the parade for the Day of Portugal, Camões and Portuguese Communities on Dundas Oeste Street, which took place this Saturday and brought together thousands of people in the ‘Little Portugal’ area.
Augusto Santos Silva highlighted the importance of the Portuguese communities from the economic point of view, “meaning in several dimensions”.
“In the first place, because of remittances, because of the savings that Portuguese residents abroad transfer to Portugal. At this point, it can be said that they represent 1.5% of the national wealth. Portuguese communities are themselves markets for Portuguese exports, that is, food products”, he underlined.
The former Portuguese Minister of Foreign Affairs also stressed that the communities “are the most lively and direct expression of what Portugal is” and “of what it means to be from Portugal”.
They also represent a factor of attraction so that the people of the countries where these communities are established have the appetite, the desire to get to know Portugal better”, he praised.
As for Canada, one of the 15 main markets for Portuguese tourism, Canadians “know Portuguese”, having knowledge by “direct, own, immediate experience, what it means to be Portuguese, what are the virtues of Portugal, a peaceful country , a safe country, open, with very friendly people who warmly welcome foreigners”.
Both countries, Canada and Portugal, celebrate 70 years of diplomatic relations this year, “very close countries”, a factor that Augusto Santos Silva does not forget.
Economic relations are growing, that is, from this new trade agreement between the European Union and Canada, Portuguese exports have increased a lot, later because Portugal and Canada are committed members of the United Nations. Portugal and Canada are champion countries in the implementation of the global pact on migration”, he concluded.
The President of the Assembly of the Republic is on an official visit to Canada, visiting Montreal, Quebec this Sunday, where he will preside over the inauguration of the mural in homage to Arístides de Sousa Mendes, at 3:30 p.m. (8:30 p.m.). in Lisbon).
On Monday, Santos Silva heads to Ottawa, where the hoisting of the Portuguese flag is also scheduled in the federal parliament at 4:00 p.m. local time (9:00 p.m. Lisbon time).
Source: Observadora
