The President of the Republic addressed a message to the President of the Republic of São Tomé e Príncipe, on the occasion of the National day of São Tomé e Príncipe.

Following is the text of the message:

"Mister President,

On the occasion of the National Day of São Tomé e Príncipe, I wish to address Your Excellency, on behalf of the People of Portugal and in my own personal name, our warmest congratulations, as well as our best wishes for the growing prosperity of the Fraternal People of São Tomé e Príncipe.

Linked by ancient and deep bonds of friendship, based upon our sharing of a common language, our two Peoples enjoy nowadays a wide and solid framework of relationship which is structured in multiple levels and which allows us to foresee our future relations with confidence and ambition, both in the perspective of a greater coordination of efforts and in the holding of similar stances at international levels.

I allow myself to stress, in this context, the common objective to actively contribute towards the growing international assertion of CPLP (Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries) and of the Portuguese language, a common heritage of all its members.

Renewing my most sincere congratulations, I beg Your Excellency to accept the conveyance of my highest regards and personal esteem.

Aníbal Cavaco Silva"