India, Sept. 22 -- After Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom, Portugal has also announced its official recognition of the state of Palestine.

On Sunday, Portuguese foreign minister Paulo Rangel announced that Portugal now officially recognises the state of Palestine. Along with this, the foreign minister backed the two-state solution with Israel as the only way to lasting peace for both states and in the region.

"Recognizing the State of Palestine is therefore the fulfilment of a fundamental, consistent, and widely agreed policy," Rangel told reporters in New York ahead of the annual UN General Assembly.

"Portugal advocates the two-state solution as the only path to a just and lasting peace, one that promotes coexistence and peace...