<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">The fourth Foreign Office Consultations between India and Portugal was held in New Delhi today, with a focus on political relations, deepening of trade and investment, cooperation in defence, science and technology, and energy. External Affairs Ministry said both sides stressed on early implementation of the pilot project on the Recruitment of Indian Citizens to work in the Portuguese Republic, as well as the holding of the first India – Portugal Consular Dialogue.</p>''<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br />''</p>''<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">Discussions were also held on the joint commemoration of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2025. Both sides reviewed the ongoing cooperation between India and Portugal on the development of the Maritime Heritage Complex in Gujarat's Lothal.</p>''<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br />''</p>''<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">The Consultations were co-chaired by Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs, Sanjay Verma and the Director General for Foreign Policy, in the Portuguese Foreign Affairs Ministry, Ambassador Rui Vinhas. Both sides expressed happiness at the forthcoming meeting of the Joint Working Group on Defence in  February this year and decided to hold the next Joint Economic Commission at an early date. They also called for the early scheduling of the Joint Working Group on Agriculture and Renewable Energy.</p>''<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br />''</p>''<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222;">The two sides also exchanged views on global and regional issues including Gaza and Ukraine and agreed to continue the existing close cooperation in multilateral fora, including at the UN</span></p>