AGERPRES special correspondent to Lisbon, Portugal, Florentina Peia reports: Romanian President Klaus Iohannis announced on Saturday that Romania and Portugal will sign two memoranda of co-operation regarding energy and investment and trade during his ongoing state visit to Portugal.

„In a complicated context marked by the Russian aggression against Ukraine, co-operation between our countries in terms of security, economy and culture can be said to have been and remain exemplary. However, we still have a substantial potential for the development of our economic co-operation as reflected in the upward trend of commercial exchanges. I also discussed with Mr President concrete areas in which we can maximise bilateral co-operation, such as energy, investment, education, culture and digital transformation. In addition, two memoranda of co-operation will be signed on Monday in important fields: energy and economic cooperation, including investment,” Iohannis told a joint news conference with his Portuguese counterpart Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa at Belem Palace.

Iohannis also welcomed the open attitude of the Portuguese officials towards the Romanian community in Portugal, saying that it is very well integrated. He added that Romania wants to be increasingly more active within the Community of Portuguese Language Countries, where it became an associate member in 2021.

President Klaus Iohannis on Friday started a four-day visit to Portugal. He was scheduled for Monday to meet Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa, President of the Portuguese Parliament Augusto Santos Silva, and Portuguese lawmakers. He was also expected to call on the Palace of the Lisbon Municipality to meet local mayor Carlos Moedas.