China ready to ‘enhance synergies’ with Portugal
Beijing wants to "promote cooperation" in areas such as energy, finance and infrastructure construction. Over the last decade China has become one of the main investors in Portugal.
Chinese President, Xi Jinping, said on Friday that China is ready to work with Portugal to “enhance synergies” between the development strategies of both countries, during a conversation with Portuguese president Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.
According to the official Xinhua news agency, Xi said that Beijing wants to “promote cooperation” in areas such as energy, finance and infrastructure construction.
The Chinese president also pointed to cooperation in third countries, calling for Portugal’s participation in the Partnership for Africa’s Development Initiative.
Over the last decade China has become one of the main investors in Portugal, with China Three Gorges buying 21 percent of EDP from the state, the acquisition of 25 percent of REN by Chinese state company State Grid and the purchase of Fidelidade by the Fosun group.
The Asian country is also the main trading partner of several African countries and one of the biggest investors on the continent.
According to a note published on the website of the Presidency of the Republic, “the two heads of state had the opportunity to address different issues of the bilateral relationship, Macau, the European Union’s relations with the People’s Republic of China, the pandemic, the international situation, and, in particular, Afghanistan”.
