DILI, 05 May 2026 (TATOLI) — The Director-General of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP), Miguel Monteiro, said culture should play a central role in public policy, describing it as a strategic pillar for development, social cohesion and the international projection of member states.
Monteiro made the remarks during the 14th CPLP Meeting of Ministers of Culture, held on May 4-5 in Dili under the theme Safeguarding Cultural Heritage in Promoting CPLP Identity and Citizenship.
The meeting, hosted at Hotel Timor in Dili, brought together culture ministers from CPLP member states, cultural focal points and the ambassadors of Portugal, Angola and Brazil accredited to Timor-Leste.
Representing CPLP Executive Secretary Maria Fátima Jardim, Monteiro said culture should no longer be viewed as a peripheral sector, but as a strategic domain at a time of rapid digital transformation and growing interdependence among nations.
He said the cultural diversity within the CPLP was the bloc’s “greatest strength”, enabling the organisation to strengthen its distinct identity on the international stage.
Monteiro also highlighted culture’s role as a tool of cultural diplomacy, saying it can foster closer ties among peoples and reinforce mutual trust between member states.
He called on the organisation to move from what he described as a largely declarative approach to a more operational model focused on delivering concrete results.
Among the priorities outlined were strengthening cultural mobility across member states through the movement of artists, researchers and cultural professionals, accelerating digital transformation through content-sharing platforms and heritage digitisation, and supporting cultural and creative industries to drive economic growth and create skilled jobs.
Monteiro said he hoped the meeting would deliver “concrete, ambitious and transformative decisions” that reinforce the CPLP’s role as a dynamic platform for cultural cooperation with direct benefits for citizens across member countries.
Timor-Leste’s Minister of Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture, Nelyo Isaac, said culture remained a unifying force among Portuguese-speaking nations despite geographical distances.
“Culture is the invisible thread that unites us as one large Portuguese-speaking family,” Isaac said.
He said the meeting aimed to strengthen political coordination among member states, promote diplomatic cooperation and ensure effective implementation of previously agreed cultural commitments.
“Our success will depend on our capacity for dialogue and willingness for mutual cooperation,” he said, adding that culture also forms the foundation of the CPLP countries’ economic and social resilience.
Isaac said the meeting would also assess the implementation of the previous action plan and define new priorities for 2026-2028, focusing on human resource development, arts digitisation and the preservation of cultural heritage.
Journalist: Afonso do Rosário
Editor: Isaura Lemos de Deus
Translation: Filomeno Martins
