Portuguese, German presidents hail close ties

LISBON, March 1 (Xinhua) -- German president Frank-Walter Steinmeier visited his Portuguese counterpart, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, in Lisbon on Thursday, to celebrate the close relationship between the two countries.

Steinmeier hailed what he described as "a long-standing and trusting friendship", while Rebelo de Sousa said the two countries were "united by old, strong and durable ties".

The two presidents held a meeting at the presidential palace where they discussed migration, Brexit, German and Portuguese scientific cooperation and increased European integration.

After the meeting, Steinmeier told a press conference that Portugal was "among the countries that had grown and become stronger thanks to European integration".

He added that Portugal "has to make its contribution to help overcome current [European Union] difficulties" and reassured the Portuguese people that they could "rest assured that Germany will be on your country's side."

For his part, Rebelo de Sousa highlighted "the strong and very welcome presence of German businesses in Portugal, and recovering Portuguese investment in Germany".

Steinmeier will later meet with Portugal's prime minister, Antonio Costa, before traveling north to Porto for the second day of his state visit.

In Porto he will visit the university and an exhibition celebrating the German writer Gunter Grass. He will then be sworn in as an honorary member of the port wine fraternity. Enditem