Mayor of Porto and President of Germany toast to a unified Europe

The German Head of State Frank-Walter Steinmeier had a full day in Porto, in the context of his official visit to Portugal, from 1 to 2 March.
 Street tours with the President of the Portuguese Republic and with the Mayor of Porto, Portuguese folk greetings, selfies, the enthronement of the German President by the Confraria of Porto Wine, a visit to the Municipal Museum, to the UPTEC - Scientific and Technologic Park from the Porto University and to the São Francisco Church were the highlights of the German delegation agenda in the city of Porto. 

After visiting UPTEC, where Frank-Walter Steinmeier had the opportunity to meet with innovative SME in the technological sector, the German President and entourage then headed to the House Museum Guerra Junqueiro where the President inaugurated the exhibition "Encontros" [Encounters] by German Nobel Prize for Literature Günter Grass, who lived for sometime in Portugal, back in the eighties.

The following stop in the visit was at the Palácio da Bolsa [Stock Exchange Palace], where the German Head of State was enthroned Brother of the Confraria of Vinho do Porto. An honour already bestowed to the King of Belgium, Philippe of Belgium, the King of Spain, Felipe VI and the Secretary State of the United Nations.

Frank-Walter Steinmeier took on the strong commitment with this important symbol of the city - the Brotherhood of the Porto Wine by toasting with those present in the room, by receiving a medal and becoming a "brother".

Lunch was then served at the iconic Salão Árabe, offered by Mayor of Porto, Rui Moreira and chaired by the President of the Portuguese Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.

Rui Moreira welcomed the solidarity which unites the people of both countries and toasted to a unified Europe, declaring that he hoped the German President would have a clear understanding of what the city is all about. "It is about entrepreneurship, about culture, about art, about tradition, but also about a contemporary attitude towards a unified Europe", the mayor enthused.

In turn, the German Head of State showed gratitude for the "real hospitality" in Porto and highlighted how impressed he was with the entrepreneurial ecosystem in the city and concluded by thanking Rui Moreira "for showing me and the German delegation what you are doing here in Porto".

The visit ended with a tour by Ribeira do Porto where the Presidents of German and Portugal and the Mayor of the city were warmly greeted by folk and visitors.