António Cotrim / Lusa
Prime Minister Luís Montenegro, during the meeting, with the President of the Popular Republic of China, Xi Jinping
It is not yet well known why, but when Luís Montenegro mentioned the word “Ukraine”, during the meeting with Xi Jinping, the Chinese microphones were immediately disconnected; And the journalists were asked to leave the room.
The Portuguese Prime Minister stated, before the President of the Popular Republic of China, who has his close relationship with Russia so that it is possible “Build a just and lasting peace” in Ukraine.
Luís Montenegro He made these statements at the beginning of the meeting with Xi Jinping, on his first day of official visit to China. But the Journalists could only record the first three minutes of the conversation.
“I cannot help but, on behalf of the government of Portugal, transmit to Mr. President that we count a lot on your contribution and the close relationship that China maintains with the Russian Federation to be able, as fast as possible, build a fair and lasting peace in Ukraine“He said.
Coincidence or not, according to the report, it was at this precise moment, when Montenegro mentioned the word “Ukraine”that the Chinese journalists microphones turned off; having been later request to the media that abandoned the room.
After this moment, in statements to journalists, the Portuguese Prime Minister expressed confidently that the appeal who addressed the president of China to use the close relationship with Russia in favor of peace in Ukraine “It won’t fall into a rototo bag”. But he warned that he can’t talk for him.
Luís Montenegro was questioned by journalists about what Eco had to Xinping, after saying that he had the contribution of this country to “build a fair and lasting peace in Ukraine”.
“I believe that the appeal, coming from a friendly country, coming from a European Union country, coming from a country, such as Mr. President XI Jinping also emphasized, who has an identity of values and route, will not fall into a rotor bag,” he said.
Say not being able to answer for the President of the Popular Republic of ChinaMontenegro has manifested a convinced that Portugal has done what is required of this conflict.
“My conviction is that, to our dimension and without any kind of pretentiousness, we do what is required to a nation with history and the international respectability that Portugal has. We are builders of bridges, we are protagonists of the approach between peoples, we are advocates of peace, defenders of values, respect for people’s rights,” he said.
Montenegro landed in Beijing early Monday afternoon, closed to the media. There was no public agenda on that day.
The prime minister’s official agenda began on Monday morning with a ceremony of deposition of a flower crown at the monument to the heroes of the people, in Tiananmen Square, where he was accompanied by his wife and the three ministers who are part of this visit: Paulo RangelMinister of State and Foreign Affairs, Manuel Castro AlmeidaMinister of Economics and Territorial Cohesion, and Grace CarvalhoMinister of Environment and Energy.
At this point, which could only be accompanied on site by a photojournalist and an image reporter, the hymns of Portugal and China were touched.
In addition to the meeting with XI Jinping, Luís Montenegro met first with the president of the China National Assembly, Zhao Leji.
In the late afternoon, the head of the Portuguese government will have a work meeting with the Chinese counterpart, Li Qiangalso in the Great Palace of the People, then heading to the Special Administrative Region of Macao (MGI), where there is schedule on Wednesday morning.
On Thursday and Friday, Montenegro will make an official visit to Japan, with tickets for Tokyo and Osaka.
