NICOSIA, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- Portugal's Prime Minister Antonio Costa paid an official visit to Cyprus on Tuesday, in what the eastern Mediterranean island's President Nicos Anastasiades said was an "historic" moment for the two countries.
"The visit constitutes an historic moment for the relations of the two countries, since it is the first ever visit of a Portuguese Prime Minister to the Republic of Cyprus," Anastasiades said after receiving Costa at the Presidential Palace.
Costa was in Cyprus for the 5th MED-7 summit of the seven southern countries of the European Union.
The Portuguese Prime Minister had private talks with Anastasiades before they later led their corresponding delegations in talks, which Anastasiades said focused on cooperation in the sectors of the economy, shipping and education.
"Cyprus and Portugal share long-standing ties of friendship and have always enjoyed excellent relations, both at the level of government and of our peoples," Anastasiades said after the talks.
He said that Cyprus and Portugal, although located in opposing ends of Europe, held similar views in a vast range of areas and identified synergies in trade and investment, shipping, energy, education and culture.
Costa said Portugal was looking to enhance political consultations with Cyprus.
"Geographically we are on opposite extremes of our continent but we are very close, sharing a common vision about the future of the European Union, the most important challenges we need to face at European level and in the wish to strengthen our bilateral relations," he said.
He noted that trade relations between the two countries are still modest but expanding.
"Considering the structures of both economies there is clear room for improvement, not only in traditional sectors but also in more technological areas," he noted.
Costa said the talks identified three specific areas where the two countries must concentrate efforts on: they should organize a business forum to bring their entrepreneurial communities in contact, increase cooperation in the scientific domain, especially in maritime science, and share best practices in the tourism sector.
