Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa has flagged a new trilateral relationship involving the Mainland, Portugal and São Tomé and Príncipe, the Portuguese news agency Lusa reports.

The comments were made this week at a meeting between the Portuguese president and his counterpart, São Tomé and Príncipe President Evaristo Carvalho.

Mr Sousa said he welcomed the resumption of diplomatic ties between the African country and the Mainland last year, and applauded the agreements signed in Beijing this year.

Portugal-São Tomé and Príncipe relations were “excellent” in all levels and could be deepened, he said.