On 7 December 2017, ‘Lords of the Ocean. Treasures of the Portuguese Empire of the 16th-18th centuries’Exhibition Opening ceremony took place at the Moscow Kremlin Museums. For the first time the exhibition at the Moscow Kremlin Museums refers to the history and culture of Portugal as a great colonial empire that strongly influenced on the most distant parts of the world. Global exploration started with the Portuguese discoveries that changed the world forever. The exhibition project, with the help of unique European Royal treasures, shows how Portuguese colonization of Africa, India and South America influenced the Old World's art, culture and science.

“I am very pleased that such a significant display is held in the very center of Russia—Kremlin. This shows Russia’s great respect for Portuguese art. Opening the exhibition at the Moscow Kremlin Museums guarantees that it would be a success, seeing that it must be attended by a vast number of visitors—tourists and metropolitans. I am sure that this display, which is planned so thoroughly, so emotionally and skillfully, must become a grand event, both in art and mutual understanding between our two countries,” Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Olga Golodets said.

Portuguese culture minister Luís Filipe Castro Mendesmarked that the exhibition opening is extremely symbolic, as it is held the day before the ceremonial events dedicated to establishing diplomatic relations between Russia and Portugal, which would be held during the next two years. “Friendship and cooperation between our countries last for several centuries already and continue to be going strong in very different fields—economy, culture, art and scientific research,” he said. On behalf of the Portuguese government, he expressed gratitude to all the organizations that gave on loan their exhibits for the display, as well as to the general sponsor, thanks to whom the exhibition became possible.  

Among the participants of the ceremony were: Deputy Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation Vladimir Aristarkhov, Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation for International Cultural Cooperation Mikhail Shvydkoy, Ambassador of Portugal to Russia Paulo Vizeu Pinheiro, Vice President of the VTB Bank Eugenia Mamsurova and General Director of the Moscow Kremlin Museums Elena Gagarina.