File photo: CGTN

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Thursday that China stands ready to strengthen cooperation with Portugal and other European countries on research and development and fair distribution of vaccines and drugs, and jointly oppose "vaccine nationalism" and "political virus."

Wang made the remarks when holding the first round of strategic dialogue at the foreign ministers' level in Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, with Portuguese Minister of State and Foreign Affairs Augusto Santos Silva.

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, China and Portugal have supported each other in times of difficulty. The traditional friendship between the two countries has stood the test of time and opened up new opportunities, Wang noted.