Chinese Premier Li Qiang, during talks with visiting Portuguese Prime Minister Montenegro, expressed hope that Portugal would help guide the EU in adhering to the positioning of the China-EU partnership and adopt a positive and pragmatic policy towards China.
According to Xinhua News Agency, Li Qiang and Montenegro held talks on the 9th at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Li Qiang said that since the establishment of diplomatic relations, China and Portugal have always trusted, respected, and assisted each other, promoting healthy and stable development of bilateral relations. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the China-Portugal comprehensive strategic partnership, ushering in new opportunities for the development of bilateral relations and cooperation.
Li Qiang stated that China is willing to strengthen the alignment of development strategies with Portugal, continue to jointly build the Belt and Road Initiative with high quality, make good use of mechanisms such as the strategic dialogue, the Joint Commission on Economic and Trade Cooperation, and the China-Portuguese-speaking Countries Economic and Trade Cooperation Forum, promote balanced and optimized development of bilateral trade, explore potential in emerging fields such as the digital economy and green economy, create more new growth points for cooperation, and support companies from both countries jointly expanding into third-party markets.
Li Qiang mentioned that China is willing to import more high-quality agricultural and food products from Portugal, encourages more Chinese enterprises to invest in Portugal, and hopes that Portugal will create a good business environment. Both sides should also further facilitate personnel exchanges, unleash the vitality of the tourism economy, and strengthen exchanges and cooperation in areas such as higher education, language teaching, digital education, and youth.
Li Qiang pointed out that unilateralism and protectionism are severely impacting the international order. He said that as two major global powers, China and the EU should strengthen coordination and jointly respond. He hopes that Portugal will help guide the EU in adhering to the positioning of the China-EU partnership and adopting a positive and pragmatic policy towards China, and work with China to safeguard free trade and the common interests of China and the EU.