China and Portugal will increase efforts to strengthen their
economic and trade cooperation, officials from the two countries
said in Beijing Tuesday.?
Vice Minister of Commerce Zhang Zhigang said at the Fifth
Sino-Portuguese Trade Fair that China's economy has developed
rapidly since the reform and opening policy was implemented.
China and Portugal have enjoy opportunities for economic and
trade cooperation, and the two sides have potential to promote
trade and investment exchange, he said.
"We welcome Portuguese entrepreneurs to invest in the west and
northeast of China," he said.
Franquelim Garcia Alves, secretary of state of the Ministry of
Economy of Portugal, said the Fifth Sino-Portuguese Trade Fair
falls during the 25th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the
two countries and when Portuguese Foreign Minister Teresa Patricio
Gouveia is visiting China.
This indicates that the Portuguese government values political,
economic and cultural exchanges and cooperation with China, Alves
said.
The two sides agreed to strengthen exchanges between trade
departments and enterprises, and at the same time to expand
cooperation in tourism.
Chinese Customs reports that trade volume between China and
Portugal exceeded US$600 million in 2003, an increase of 56.7
percent. China's imports are approaching US$200 million, a jump of
135.5 percent.
(Xinhua News Agency March 3, 2004)