President Xi urges visiting Lisbon leader to promote steady China-EU ties

President Xi Jinping hailed the significant achievements in China-Portugal cooperation, saying that the two countries have set a fine example of mutual respect and mutual benefit between countries with different social systems and national conditions.

During a meeting in Beijing with Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro on Sept 9, Xi also called on Portugal, a European Union member, to work with China to uphold the China-EU partnership and promote the sustained, steady and sound development of China-EU relations.

Montenegro was in China on a three-day visit that started on Sept 8.

During the meeting, Xi noted that both China and Portugal are countries with profound historical heritage, and their peoples share the spirit of openness, inclusiveness, enterprise, and self-reliance. He mentioned the two countries’ efforts in properly resolving the issue of Macao through friendly consultations.

China stands ready to strengthen strategic communication with Portugal, keep bilateral relations on the right course and take them to new heights, and make greater contributions to the prosperity and progress of the two countries and the world through solidarity and cooperation, he said.

Xi underlined the need for both countries to carry forward traditional friendship, maintain mutual trust and support, foster greater synergy between their development strategies, and expand practical cooperation in innovation, green development, oceans, medicine, and other fields.

He called for leveraging Macao’s unique role as a bridge to make good use of mechanisms such as the Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries to achieve higher levels of mutual benefit and win-win results.

Xi pointed out that the world has entered a new period of turbulence and transformation, and humanity once again finds itself at a historical crossroads. The more volatile and turbulent the international situation becomes, the more China and Europe need to strengthen communication, enhance mutual trust, and deepen cooperation, he said.

China stands ready to enhance multilateral coordination with Portugal, jointly practice true multilateralism, uphold the authority of the United Nations, safeguard the free trade system, and work for a more just and equitable global governance system, Xi said.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Portugal. Bilateral trade reached $9.28 billion in 2024, representing a year-on-year increase of 6.6 percent. Portugal is the first Western European country to sign a memorandum of understanding on cooperation on China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

Montenegro noted that Portugal-China relations are time-honored as well as future-oriented. He said the remarkable success of Macao over the past 25 years stands as full vindication of the Portuguese government’s decision at that time.

Portugal will continue to adhere to the one-China policy and will never forget the invaluable support China provided during the most challenging period of its economy, he said.

He expressed Portugal’s firm commitment to deepening friendly cooperation with China, saying that his country looks forward to enhancing political mutual trust with China, strengthening trade and economic ties, and promoting two-way investment.

Montenegro highlighted that Portugal agrees with the important ideas underpinning the Global Governance Initiative proposed by Xi, and it stands ready to work with Beijing to safeguard multilateralism and welcomes China’s greater contribution to improving the global governance system.

China is an irreplaceable cooperation partner for Europe, and Portugal is ready to play an active role in promoting the healthy and stable development of EU-China relations, he added.

Premier Li Qiang held a grand welcoming ceremony for Montenegro at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Sept 9.

During their official talks, Li expressed China’s willingness to strengthen the alignment of development strategies with Portugal, continue to advance high-quality BRI cooperation, promote balanced growth in bilateral trade, and explore the potential for cooperation in emerging fields, such as the digital economy and the green economy, and support companies from both countries to explore third-party market cooperation.

Contact the writer at caodesheng@chinadaily.com.cn