Diplomacy and Music: Culture as a Bridge between Countries and Communities

On 3 November, the Pestana Brussels Hotel hosted another edition of ‘Regresso à Casa de Partida’, an initiative organised with the support of Matinés Pensantes, Solar Wine, Caixa Geral de Depósitos (CGD) and the Belgian-Portuguese Chamber of Commerce (CCBP).

The guest for this edition was the Portuguese Ambassador to Belgium, António Costa Moura, who shared his thoughts on the role of music and culture in diplomacy, as tools for dialogue, bringing peoples closer together and enhancing international visibility.

One of the highlights of the conversation was the presentation of a particularly interesting ambition for Brussels: the creation of a shared cultural space dedicated to the Portuguese-speaking world, in collaboration with the partner countries of the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPLP).

More than just a physical space, the project aims to serve as a genuine platform for encounter and creativity, featuring a cultural programme centred on the Portuguese-speaking world and a diverse representation of the countries involved — not only at a diplomatic level, but above all in economic, cultural, artistic and community spheres, placing artists at the heart of the initiative.

The ambition is to make Belgium an international platform for the circulation and promotion of the Portuguese-speaking cultural sphere, where the diversity and richness of cultural expressions from Portuguese-speaking countries are celebrated.

This initiative forms part of the cultural programme currently being developed by the Portuguese Embassy in Belgium.

For the CCBP, cultural diplomacy is also an essential dimension of economic diplomacy. Culture brings communities closer together, creates opportunities for collaboration and strengthens ties between Portugal, Belgium and the Portuguese-speaking world.

We would like to thank Ambassador António Costa Moura for sharing his vision, the partners in this initiative and all the participants who contributed to yet another occasion for reflection and dialogue.