China, Portugal to step up cooperation under B&R Initiative

Zhang Dejiang (L), chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC), meets with Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa in Lisbon, Portugal, July 12, 2017. Zhang paid an official friendly visit to Portugal from Monday to Wednesday. [Xinhua/Ma Zhancheng]

China and Portugal have pledged to deepen cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative, a global infrastructure project spanning dozens of countries.

Mutually beneficially cooperation between China and Portugal has great potential for the initiative, said China's top legislator Zhang Dejiang while meeting with Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa in Lisbon.

Zhang, who paid an official friendly visit to Portugal from Monday to Wednesday, noted that Portugal, with its advantageous geographic location, is a strategic propeller for the development of the Belt and Road project.

Proposed by China in 2013, the initiative refers to the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road. It aims to build a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along the ancient trade routes.

Zhang, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, also expressed hope that Portugal and China could further cooperation under the grand project in order to achieve win-win results.

The Portuguese prime minister, for his part, said that Portugal is an active supporter and participant of the initiative.

Portugal is ready to deepen cooperation with China in such areas as new energy, agricultural products and infrastructure, as well as in culture, education and tourism, Costa said.

Costa added that Portugal welcomes more Chinese enterprises to invest in the country and will provide a fair and convenient business environment for them.  

He noted that Portugal, with its advantageous geographic location, is a strategic partner in the development of the Belt and Road.

Zhang also expressed the hope that Portugal and China could further cooperation under the initiative in order to achieve win-win results.

The Portuguese prime minister, for his part, said Portugal is an active supporter for and participant in the initiative.

Portugal is ready to deepen cooperation with China in such areas as new energy, agricultural products and infrastructure, as well as in culture, education and tourism, Costa said.

Costa added that Portugal welcomes more Chinese enterprises to invest in the country and will provide a fair and convenient business environment for them.

The Chinese legislature and Portuguese parliament should enhance cooperation to keep up with the general pace of bilateral ties, Zhang said during the meeting with his Portuguese counterpart, Eduardo Ferro Rodrigues, on Wednesday.

Zhang said China's NPC is willing to join the Portuguese parliament in increasing cooperation between the legislative bodies of the two countries and push forward the China-Portugal comprehensive strategic partnership.

He also called for reinforcing friendly exchanges between the two countries at all levels and expanding people-to-people exchanges.

As Portugal is an important destination country for Chinese investment in Europe, Zhang expressed the hope that Portugal would ensure the legitimate rights of Chinese companies and investors in Portugal.

For his part, Rodrigues said Zhang's visit, the first by a top Chinese legislator to Portugal, has great significance in elevating cooperation between legislative bodies of the two countries and in deepening bilateral ties.

Rodrigues said Portugal regards the visit as an opportunity to strengthen cooperation between special committees and friendly groups of the two countries to promote the development of bilateral friendly relations.

Before the meeting, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation between China's NPC and the Portuguese parliament was inked by Zhang and Rodrigues.