From April 30 to May 6, Oeiras hosted a group of students from Dongcheng District, Beijing, as part of a cultural exchange program promoted by the Municipality of Oeiras, with the support of the Oeiras Valley Investment Agency (OVIA). The visit followed the participation of top Portuguese high school students in a reciprocal exchange held in October 2024 in Beijing, marking another important step in strengthening the relationship between the two regions.
Over a week, the Chinese students were welcomed by Portuguese host families, offering them a unique opportunity for cultural and educational immersion. The program, co-organized with the involvement of the Municipality of Oeiras and several local schools, featured a wide range of educational, cultural, and technological activities.
Highlights included a Welcome Ceremony at the Palácio Marquês de Pombal, visits to innovation centers such as Maker Space InovLabs and Taguspark, as well as cultural experiences in Lisbon, Sintra, and Cascais. The students also attended classes alongside Portuguese peers at S. Julião da Barra and Carnaxide schools, and visited companies like PHC Software, gaining valuable insight into Oeiras’ dynamic innovation ecosystem.
The presence of Ms. Chen Di, the official representative of the Government of Dongcheng District, added significant institutional value to the initiative. During her stay, Ms. Chen Di met with Ambassador António Martins da Cruz, Chairman of OVIA’s Board of Directors, to discuss new avenues for bilateral cooperation, including the proposal to jointly organize a seminar in Beijing to showcase investment opportunities in Oeiras.
OVIA played a central role in this initiative, helping to foster closer ties between the innovation, education, and cultural ecosystems of Portugal and China, and reinforcing its mission to promote the international positioning of Oeiras across multiple strategic dimensions.
