(L-R) Débora Katisa Morais Brazão Carvalho, First Lady of Cape Verde; José Maria Pereira Neves, President of Cape Verde ; HRH Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg;
Credit: © SIP/Jean-Christophe Verhaegen
At the invitation of Their Royal Highnesses the Grand Duke and the Grand Duchess of Luxembourg, the President of Cape Verde, José Maria Neves, and his wife Débora Katisa Carvalho are paying a state visit to the Grand Duchy from Tuesday 23 to Thursday 25 May 2023.
The presidential couple are accompanied by the Cape Verdean Minister for Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and Regional Integration, Rui Alberto de Figueiredo Soares, the Minister of Communities, Jorge Pedro Maurício dos Santos, and the Minister of Industry, Trade and Energy, Alexandre Dias Monteiro.
On the first day of this state visit, the Cape Verdean President and First Lady received an official welcome from Grand Duke Henri at the Grand Ducal Palace in Luxembourg-Ville.
The presidential couple then laid a wreath at the National Monument of Solidarity (Kanounenhiwwel), in the presence of Luxembourg's Prime Minister Xavier Bettel and Luxembourg's Chief of Defence, General Steve Thull.
Luxembourg's Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Jean Asselborn, later hosted a lunch in honour of the visiting Cape Verdean government ministers, whilst Grand Duke Henri hosted President José Maria Neves and his wife for a private lunch at the Grand Ducal Palace.
In the early afternoon, the Cape Verdean Head of State successively received in audience the President of the Chamber of Deputies (Luxembourg's parliament), Fernand Etgen, Prime Minister Bettel and Minister Asselborn at the Grand Ducal Palace. On this occasion, he awarded Prime Minister Bettel the Cape Verdean honorary disinction of the Order of Amilcar Cabral (first class).
The Mayor of the City of Luxembourg, Lydie Polfer, then welcomed the presidential couple and Grand Duke Henri at the Town Hall for an academic session, in the presence of the college of aldermen and the municipal council.
The cultural programme included a guided tour of the Lëtzebuerg City Museum as well as a walk along the Chemin de la Corniche.
The first day of this state visit ended with a gala dinner held in honour of the Cape Verdean President and First Lady at the Grand Ducal Palace, in the presence of Grand Duke Henri and Prince Guillaume, Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg. Note that Grand Duchess Maria Teresa is currently isolating after having contracted COVID-19.
The state visit continues on Tuesday 24 and Wednesday 25 May 2023.
