Mozambican President Daniel Chapo has called for a renewed commitment to parliamentary diplomacy to promote the free movement of citizens within the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPLP), as he opened the 14th Ordinary Session of the CPLP Parliamentary Assembly (AP-CPLP) in Maputo.

Held under the theme “For Peace and Citizenship in the CPLP”, the session brings together lawmakers and policymakers from CPLP member states, including Angola, Cape Verde, Equatorial Guinea, Portugal, São Tomé and Príncipe, Timor-Leste, and host country Mozambique.

President Chapo described the gathering as “a profound act of communion among brotherly peoples who share a common history, united by a common language and a shared destiny that calls for collective solidarity.”

Reflecting on 50 years of independence for many of the former Portuguese colonies, Chapo urged Lusophone nations to use the meeting as an opportunity to evaluate their community ties and the tangible benefits of belonging to an organisation like the CPLP.

Addressing the assembly, he underscored the importance of peace, democracy, and good governance, the key values underpinning the session’s theme.

“Since the proclamation of national independence on 25 June 1975 by the late President Samora Moisés Machel, Mozambique has taken firm steps towards building a peaceful nation and a democratic state governed by the rule of law and good governance principles,” Chapo affirmed.

He acknowledged Mozambique’s enduring political challenges but stressed that consolidating peace and fostering reconciliation among Mozambicans remain top government priorities.

Chapo also pushed for a more dynamic CPLP.

“This community must not merely be built on affection and solidarity,” he said.

“It must embrace a strategic mission: to build and consolidate true Lusophone citizenship—based on mobility, social protection, knowledge sharing, appreciation of diversity, and recognition of rights across the CPLP space.”

The President urged the Parliamentary Assembly to move beyond being a forum for reflection. “Let it become a space for transformative decisions, renewed commitments, and collective action among our nations and peoples.”

Starting Tuesday, 15 July, Mozambique will assume the rotating presidency of the CPLP Parliamentary Assembly for the 2025–2027 period, taking over from Equatorial Guinea, whose term concluded on Monday.