Senior Chinese leader Li Changchun said in Lisbon Monday that
China is ready to advance the all-round strategic partnership with
Portugal to a new level.
Li made the remark during a meeting with Portuguese Prime
Minister Jose Socrates Monday evening.
Li, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau
of the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee, stopped over in
Lisbon Monday on his way to a four-nation visit to Latin America.
The trip will lead him to Mexico, Venezuela, Surinam and Peru. He
will also visit Samoa, an island nation in the South Pacific.
During his meeting with Socrates, Li said China is ready to join
hands with Portugal to substantially enhance practical cooperation
in all areas. He said the two countries should respect the concerns
of each other and promote their all-round strategic partnership to
a new level.
Li said exchanges and cooperation between the ruling parties of
the two countries have played a positive role in advancing the
all-round strategic partnership. He said the Communist Party of
China is willing to enhance cooperation with the Socialist Party of
Portugal by adding new depth and substances to their exchanges.
Socrates asked Li to convey his greetings to Premier Wen Jiabao.
He said the Portuguese people believe that China is a friend of
Portugal. He said the Portuguese government attaches priority of
its foreign policy to developing friendship with China. He
expressed the wish to continuously add more substances to the
all-round strategic partnership between Portugal and China, expand
bilateral trade and economic cooperation and enhance cooperation on
regional and international issues.
Socrates, also general secretary of the ruling Socialist Party
of Portugal, reiterated that Portugal will continue to stick to the
one-China policy.
Li said China attaches importance to its relations with the
European Union. He said China supports the process of integration
of Europe and expects the EU to play an active role on the
international stage. Li said China is ready to work with Portugal
and other EU nations to safeguard world peace, promote common
development and realize mutual benefits.
Socrates said Portugal will make the utmost effort to push
forward EU-China cooperation in all areas.
(Xinhua News Agency March 20, 2007)
