“Nobody liked what happened, obviously, but we are all making every effort to ensure the success of the programme, safeguarding the interests of the country and investors”, José Cesário said in Beijing.
Eleven people including the general director of the Portuguese Foreigners and Border Agency and the president of the Notaries and Registries institute were detained in November following a police investigation into corruption involving the Golden Visas.
Up until the end of March about 3,500 visas had been awarded, more than two-thirds to Chinese nationals, representing a joint investment of almost €1.4 billion.
Brazilian requests came second and then Russians and South Africans.