Next year will mark the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Portugal and China. Pedro Sanchez Costa Pereira, Political Director of the Portuguese Ministry for Foreign Affairs, provides an “extremely positive” evaluation of the two countries’ relationship.
File photo: VCG
“We have every reason to be confident in the future of our bilateral relationship,” Pereira told People’s Daily in an interview.
Pereira is satisfied with the development of the two countries’ties. He said “China wants to see a booming Portugal. Tourism is flourishing, with more than a quarter million Chinese visiting Portugal last year. There is an increasing interest from college students to learn each other’s language. Moreover, trade and investment is growing, making China the sixth supplier and tenth costumer of Portugal.
President Xi Jinping ’s visit will be his first visit to Portugal and also the first visit by a Chinese head of State since 2010. “The visit by President Xi Jinping will certainly represent a historic moment in our bilateral relations,” Pereira said.
Pereira also said that Portugal and China are currently negotiating over 30 agreements, at the state, ministerial and local levels, from culture to science to finance. Several of these will be signed during Xi´s visit.
On the Belt and Road Initiative, Pereira said “Portugal has consistently expressed its respect and interest in the Belt and Road Initiative since its inception in 2013. We consider it as a major contribution to international trade relations and, specifically, for Eurasian connectivity.”
Pereira said that Portugal and China are staunch supporters of an open and free world economy and oppose unilateralism. “The first China Import Expo Fair, in which Portugal participated at the ministerial level, is further eloquent testimony of the importance that China gives to free trade. In matters of free trade and promoting a multilateral world, Portugal and China have ample possibilities for cooperation,” Pereira said.
(Edited by Qiao Wai)