I have to thank you, Madam Mayor, for the warm greetings I received, as well as all who have accompanied me on this Visit, by the Lima authorities.

I am also very grateful for the honour given me by the award of the Keys to the City, and thank you, in my own personal name and on behalf of all the Portuguese.

I greet, in the person of Your Excellency, one of the most symbolic cities in Latin America, which stands out due to its historical and architectural heritage and by the dynamism of its economy and its cultural and artistic life.

I was very pleased to be able to view today some of the streets of Lima’s Historical Centre, declared by UNESCO as World Heritage.

I visited some of the most symbolical buildings, such as the Convent of São Francisco. I did this with particular emotion, knowing that its refurbishment, after the 1655 earthquake, was the work of a Portuguese architect, D. Constantino Vasconcellos.

The opportunity was also given me to see the Lima House of Posts and Telegraphs, another significant building in this city’s historical centre, and also the work of a Portuguese architect who lived here, Raul Maria Pereira.

Madam Mayor,

The bilateral relations between Peru and Portugal are going through an unprecedented progress. Peru is awakening the interest and curiosity of many Portuguese and being converted into a pole of attraction for investment by our corporations. There are many opportunities for interchange which we must know how to take advantage of for mutual benefit. Cooperation at municipal level, between representatives of local authorities is surely an enriching source of reciprocal knowledge and exchange of experiences.

The capitals of our two countries, Lima and Lisbon, are active members of the Union of Iberian American Capital Cities. I am certain that cooperation between our capitals will bring added value to our bilateral dialogue, which will surely strengthen our Iberian American Community.

Madam Mayor,

As Your Excellency well knows, relationship amongst countries is built in several dimensions. The links that we may be able to establish between local authorities and citizens, specifically through the sharing of knowledge, skills and experiences, and the creation of common projects, will doubtlessly lay the foundations on which our relationship may be bases and flourish.

With this certainty, madam Mayor, I want once more to express how grateful I am for the hospitality with which we were welcomed and my best wishes for the good fortune of the inhabitants of this unique city, which deeply inspires all those who are privileged enough to visit it.

Thank you very much