An enduring friendship

This year marks the 76th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Portugal and Pakistan. Since the establishment of diplomatic ties betwee the two countries in 1950, the partnership has grown steadily and diversified across a wide range of areas, encompassing political engagement, cooperation in multilateral fora and expanding economic links. Although separated by geography, our two nations share a long history of interaction and a common commitment to mutual respect, international cooperation and constructive dialogue.

New dimensions have been injected into the relationship by the growing Pakistani community in Portugal and increasing numbers of Pakistanis pursuing higher education in Portugal's internationally recognised institutions. The Pakistan-origin diaspora is making valuable contributions to Portuguese society in diverse fields. Their presence reflects the close links that unite our countries and serves as a living bridge between Portugal and Pakistan. Strengthening of the people-to-people dimension of our ties provides an even firmer foundation for the relationship.

Our bilateral relationship is entering an even more promising phase, marked by increasingly regular contacts and a shared commitment to deepen cooperation in areas of mutual interest. Both our countries are committed to further strengthening this partnership and exploring new avenues of engagement that can benefit our countries and peoples. The positive momentum in our bilateral relations is reflected in the intensification of high-level contacts. An important milestone will be the bilateral political consultations scheduled to take place in Islamabad on 15 July 2026. This will provide an excellent opportunity to review our cooperation agenda and identify new avenues for collaboration.

A visit to Pakistan by Portugal's Minister of State and Foreign Affairs, Paulo Rangel, is also planned for the second half of 2026. Such a visit will mark a significant step in strengthening political dialogue and expanding cooperation in areas such as trade and investment, education, renewable energy, culture and people-to-people exchanges.

There is considerable potential to expand relations and deepen cooperation, particularly in areas that remain largely untapped. They include trade and investment, renewable energy, education, science and tourism. Trade volumes are modest given the size and complementarity of our economies. But there are promising possibilities to expand trade and identify new opportunities for investment and business partnerships to benefit both countries. Renewable energy, water management, agriculture and agri-technology, information technology, pharmaceuticals, textiles, infrastructure, logistics and tourism all offer attractive opportunities. Portuguese companies possess internationally acknowledged expertise in many of these areas and can contribute to Pakistan's development while establishing mutually beneficial partnerships.

An area in which Portugal's experience could be particularly relevant to Pakistan – which, like many developing countries, is faced with power shortages – is renewable energy. Decades of work have made Portugal a global leader in generating solar and wind power. Portugal stands ready to share its experience and expertise in support of Pakistan's energy transition. Tourism is another area where Portugal's experience in sustainable tourism development may be useful for Pakistan. Portugal ranks among the world's top destinations for tourists, attracting millions of visitors every year. It has also become a popular destination for tourists from Pakistan.

Among Portugal's priorities is also to strengthen academic cooperation with Pakistan. There is growing interest by both sides in encouraging partnerships between universities, research institutions and academic networks in both countries. There is significant potential for collaboration through European programmes, joint research projects, faculty exchanges and student mobility initiatives.

People-to-people contacts are the foundation of enduring relationships. These should be strengthened by promoting academic exchanges, cultural events, tourism initiatives, business missions, sports initiatives and collaboration in art and literature. Greater interaction between our civil societies will help build mutual understanding and create opportunities that go beyond official diplomacy.

Portugal stands ready to work with Pakistan in building bridges of cooperation, opportunity and friendship. As our bilateral relationship continues to grow, there is every reason to be confident that the years ahead will bring even closer ties between our peoples and institutions. I also invite people from Pakistan to discover Portugal - a country that values openness, creativity and international partnerships.