24 March 2008
Maputo — Portuguese President Anibal Cavaco Silva on Monday received the keys to the city of Maputo from the hands of the mayor, Eneas Comiche.
At the ceremony at the city hall, Cavaco Silva declared that he had great personal memories of Maputo, and the city was "part of my life". He had first visited Maputo in 1963, and had done his military service for the Portuguese colonial army here.
"Maputo is a different city from the one I knew when I first came here, but the emotion I feel here remains intact", declared Cavaco Silva. He added that such aspects as "the beauty of the streets and the warmth of the people" remained perfectly recognizable.
Describing the Portuguese President as "a friend of rare intelligence and elegance, and with an extraordinary vision of the world", Comiche said he hoped that, in the attempt to transform Maputo into a clean, safe and prosperous city, he would be able to count on the support of Cavaco Silva, as someone "who has Maputo in his heart".
Cavaco Silva is on the first day of a three day state visit to Mozambique. He has brought with him a large number of Portuguese businessmen, who are sounding out the possibilities of further investment in Mozambique.
Before the official part of this visit started, Cavaco Silva, his wife, children and grandchildren spent a week's holiday in the idyllic tourist resort of the Bazaruto archipelago, off the coast of the southern Mozambican province of Inhambane.
Sam/pf (259)
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