The Alentejo city of Estremoz and the Brazilian city of Extremoz have signed a twinning agreement, thus becoming sister cities, with the aim of strengthening cooperation in various areas between the two sides of the Atlantic.
The agreement was signed on Monday at the Honorary Consulate of Portugal in Natal, the capital of the state of Rio Grande do Norte, and was attended by the Portuguese ambassador to Brazil, Luís Faro Ramos, among other Portuguese diplomatic authorities and the mayor of Extremoz, Jussara Sale, as well as regional Brazilian authorities.
“The idea of twinning was born out of the strong historical, cultural and emotional ties that bind our two countries and the two cities in particular. It’s very comforting to know that the traces of Portugal’s passage through Brazil are still alive, occupying a prominent place in the country’s memory and identity,” José Sadio, the mayor of Estremoz, who took part in the ceremony via videoconference, told Lusa.
The aim, said José Sadio, is for the twinning to open doors “not only in cultural dialogue and civilizational issues, but also in areas of great potential, whether economic, tourist or technological” and to accompany the good relations that Portugal and Brazil have shown over the last few years.
The two cities intend to support development exchanges between citizens and businesspeople “with a view to better mutual understanding and effective cooperation, putting the feeling of an intrinsically common destiny at the service of fraternity”, he stressed.
Also speaking to Lusa, Luís Faro Ramos stressed that this agreement “signals the will of two cities that are now sisters to have more cooperation”, in a partnership that could open up “a series of possibilities in the areas of business exchange, culture, education”, among others.
For Portugal, this important agreement brings together two cities “from two countries that are also brothers”, in a reflection of what has “lately been the strengthening between Portugal and Brazil, but also between Portugal and the various states that make up Brazil”, said the diplomat.
In addition, the ambassador recalled, the Brazilian city of Extremoz has “a very old Portuguese presence, namely a church that was built here in the 17th century”.
