The proposals were made by Zacarias da Costa at the opening session of the first meeting with the CPLP Consultative Observers after the approval of their new statutes by the Council of Ministers, which took place in São Tomé and Príncipe in August 2023, before the Summit of Heads of State and Government.

The meeting takes place within the scope of the celebrations of the World Day of the Portuguese Language, which is celebrated on May 5, the date on which the executive secretary was in São Tomé and Príncipe, with Zacarias da Costa emphasizing that the meeting is "a moment of reflection" on the "importance of the language and its global dissemination".

"As we celebrate the richness and diversity of the Portuguese language with our partners, it is important to highlight some measures that can be adopted to strengthen the partnerships between the CPLP and the Consultative Observers, further promoting the use and recognition of the Portuguese language", he said.

As a first measure, he pointed out the "promotion of continuous collaboration" between the organization and the consultative observers, through the implementation of "joint projects, information sharing and co-financing of programs that value the Portuguese language".

This was followed by the allocation of "resources from the CPLP Special Fund to financially support innovative projects proposed by the Consultative Observers" and the need for "capacity building and training" of these, with training programs that aim to "improve their skills and the effectiveness of their activities in promoting the Portuguese language".

He also proposed the promotion of the activities and projects of the consultative observers, through the CPLP's communication channels, as well as the encouragement of "the use of Portuguese as a working language in international forums and academic and cultural events", including the translation of official documents and the holding of events in Portuguese, a measure that, according to the CPLP official, "would help to increase the visibility and importance of the language".

He also defended the need to "establish regular mechanisms for 'feedback' and evaluation of partnerships and the inclusion of consultative observers in "decision-making processes on relevant topics, ensuring that their perspectives and contributions are considered".

"These measures, when implemented, will strengthen our partnerships and further promote the use and recognition of the Portuguese language, consolidating its global importance and cultural richness", stressed the Timorese Zacarias da Costa.

Between 2006 and 2023, the CPLP granted consultative observer status to 108 entities, grouping them into 14 Thematic Commissions, which cover areas such as: Promotion and Dissemination of the Portuguese Language, Health, Food and Nutritional Security, Education, Science and Technology, Economy, Business and Investment, among others corresponding to the organization's pillars.

In his speech today, the Executive Secretary of the CPLP highlighted that "the CPLP counts on the invaluable collaboration of the consultative observers in strengthening the quality of education", stressing that "the significant variation in literacy levels and in the quality of education between the CPLP countries is a challenge".

"It is essential to invest in teacher training, in the creation of appropriate educational materials and in the improvement of school infrastructures, especially in rural areas and in less developed countries", he said, adding that the CPLP also counts on its partners "to expand the digital presence of the Portuguese language" and develop artificial intelligence, which "can play a crucial role in promoting the Portuguese language".

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