President Droupadi Murmu arrived in Lisbon early this morning on the first leg of her state visit to Portugal and Slovakia.  The President will hold delegation-level talks with her Portuguese counterpart Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa. She will also meet Prime Minister Luis Montenegro and the Speaker of Parliament, Jose Pedro Aguiar Branco. The Mayor of Lisbon will also host a special event in her honour. The president will also meet members of the Indian community in Portugal, and she is likely to meet some Indian researchers from various universities and academic institutions.

The visit of the President is coming at a time when India and Portugal are celebrating 50 years of re-establishment of diplomatic ties. To celebrate this occasion, the  President will launch a commemorative stamp showcasing the artistic and cultural heritage that unites India and Portugal. From April 9 to 10, President Murmu will visit Slovakia at the invitation of Slovakian President Peter Pellegrini. It will be the first visit by the President of India to Slovakia in 29 years.