ALER participates in colloquium marking the 30th Anniversary of CPLP

Isabel Cancela de Abreu, CEO of ALER, took part in the colloquium “CPLP 30 Years – A Community of Language and Future”, held on 8th October 2026 at the Belém Cultural Centre (CCB) in Lisbon, as part of the celebrations marking the 30th anniversary of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP). ALER’s participation was framed within its role as coordinator of the Energy and Climate Thematic Commission of the CPLP Consultative Observers.

Organized by Portugal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the event brought together government representatives, CPLP institutions, Consultative Observers, and a wide range of political, diplomatic, academic and cultural figures to reflect on the Community’s achievements and future challenges.

During the opening session, the President of Portugal, António José Seguro, highlighted the importance of the CPLP as a platform for cooperation among countries spanning four continents and called for closer collaboration in strategic areas. He stressed that “together we have greater weight in the global economy and politics” and underlined the need for the Community to continue promoting its shared principles and common interests.

For her part, the CPLP Executive Secretary, Ambassador Maria de Fátima Jardim, highlighted the growth of cooperation among Member States over the past 30 years, reflected in more than one hundred sectoral agreements and instruments and a network that now includes more than 130 Consultative Observers. She also stressed the importance of using the CPLP’s shared heritage to create new opportunities for development, investment, business and private-sector cooperation.

Representing the CPLP Presidency pro tempore, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Timor-Leste, Bendito dos Santos Freitas, advocated for a Community that is closer to its citizens, particularly young people, and capable of turning its principles into concrete results through dialogue, cooperation and development.

The programme also featured debates on the political and diplomatic evolution of the CPLP, the Portuguese language as a global asset, and the geopolitical challenges facing the Community in the years ahead, promoting a broader reflection on its role in an increasingly complex international context.

On the sidelines of the event, ALER also had the opportunity to strengthen contacts with CPLP entities and institutional partners, continuing its work to promote cooperation among Portuguese-speaking countries in the fields of energy and climate.

More information here.