Foreign Minister Ditmir Bushati paid an official visit to the Portuguese Republic, where he held talks with Portuguese Minister of Foreign Affairs Augusto Santos Silva.

Ministers reaffirmed the willingness to further boost bilateral relations and agreed upon a series of agreements which will enable the creation of a more favorable environment for economic cooperation and foster interaction in areas like tourism and vocational training.

"State-consolidating reforms in Albania are centered on strengthening the rule of law in economy. This is the cornerstone of our program leading to economic development, improved business climate and safer environment for European investments, including Portuguese, in Albania”, Minister Bushati stated.

Bilateral talks also dwelled on the progress of integration processes in Albania and the region. Minister Bushati informed his counterpart on the progress marked by the Albanian government in addressing the five key priorities, where the completion of the justice reform remains crucial for taking the next step in the country’s integration process. "I would like to thank the government of Portugal for their unwavering support on the advancement of Albania's integration process," Minister Bushati underscored.
 
Moreover, Ministers exchanged views on the situation in the region, the refugee crisis, its side effects for the EU and Western Balkan countries as well as security challenges, agreeing on the need for a closer coordination in facing them. In this context, Minister Santos Silva stated that "Albania plays a key role in the stability of the Western Balkans".

During his visit to Lisbon, Minister Bushati held a meeting with the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Sousa Pinto, where he introduced the Portuguese side to developments in our country, steps undertaken with regard to the European integration process and Albania’s contribution in boosting regional cooperation.

Another important element of Minister Bushati’s visit to Portugal was the inauguration ceremony of the Honorary Consulate of the Republic of Albania in the region of Lisbon, which aims at further developing the existing network of honorary consulates in Porto and Madeira.

In his welcoming speech, Minister Bushati extended his gratitude to the Albanian-Portuguese community living and working in the Lisbon region.

The new honorary consulate will operate on the premises of the Luso-Ilir Institute, a foundation established by Consul Laurenco de Carvalho with a view to boosting cooperation between Albania and Portugal in the field of education and culture, with special support from UNESCO.

"Thanks to the commitment and dedication of the community, bilateral relations have been strengthened, not merely in the political sphere, but in all areas," Minister Bushati stated.