Chinese Vice-President Han Zheng (left) and Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa meet in Lisbon, Portugal on May 8, 2023. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

Vice-President Han Zheng has reaffirmed China's commitment to deepen cooperation with Portugal and the European Union to promote the growth of the economy and aid global economic recovery during a visit to Portugal from Sunday to Tuesday.

Vice-President Han Zheng said Beijing encourages Chinese businesses to invest in Portugal and welcomes businesses of various countries, including those from Portugal, to invest and grow in China

In remarks made during a meeting with Portugal's President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, Han said cooperation should be the mainstay for ties between Beijing and Lisbon, as well as China and the EU.

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China remains committed to friendly cooperation with different countries, promoting the development of a new type of international relations and expanding the convergence of interests with various countries, he said.

With the full reopening of the Chinese economy and society, countries including Portugal will see greater opportunities for cooperation with China, he said.

Rebelo de Sousa asked Han to convey his cordial greetings and best wishes to Xi, hailing that Portugal-China friendship has grown stronger as time goes by.

The Portuguese president said his country is committed to developing a bilateral relationship of friendship, mutual trust and proactive cooperation.

Lisbon stands ready to further bolster high-level exchanges, deepen bilateral cooperation over trade, science and technology and people-to-people exchanges, he said, adding the nation will continue to help promote constructive cooperation between EU and China.

During a meeting with Portugal's Prime Minister Antonio Costa, Han said China has always prioritized its traditional friendship with Portugal and promoted and developed their bilateral strategic partnership.

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He said Beijing encourages Chinese businesses to invest in Portugal and welcomes businesses of various countries, including those from Portugal, to invest and grow in China.

Costa warmly welcomed the visit of Han. Portugal-China relations have a long history, he said, noting that Portugal and China had successfully realized the smooth transition and transfer of government in Macao and firmly fulfilled their political commitments, setting a good example for the international community.

Portugal adheres to the one-China policy, and supports the practice of "one country, two systems" in Macao, said Costa, adding that Portugal and China have built a sound partnership through the Macao platform.

He called for joint efforts to give greater vitality to the Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-Speaking Countries, promote more practical cooperation, better deepen mutually beneficial cooperation between Portugal and China, and expand trilateral cooperation with African countries.

The two sides also exchanged views on the Ukraine crisis. Han reiterated China's stance of facilitating talks for peace, noting that China will continue to work with the international community to play a constructive role in the political settlement of the crisis.

During his visit, Han also met Portugal's Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Ana Fontoura Gouveia. The two sides on Monday vowed to strengthen cooperation on energy and innovation between the two countries.

Accompanied by Gouveia, Han inspected the Research and Development Center of Redes Energeticas Nacionais SGPS SA (REN), Portugal's national grid operator in Lisbon.

Established in 2013 as a joint venture between the State Grid Corporation of China (SGCC) and REN, the center focuses on the research of power system simulation and analysis, renewable energy management, smart grid technology, energy market and other fields, filling the gap in the field of large-scale power grid simulation experiment in Portugal.

Han said that the two sides have given play to complementary advantages and made the center a good example of win-win cooperation between China and Portugal. 

With Xinhua inputs