国内英语新闻:China willing to further strengthen political, economic cooperation with Portugal: senior of

LISBON, June 16 (Xinhua) -- Senior official of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Guo Jinlong has said here that China is willing to further strengthen mutual political trust, deepen pragmatic cooperation in economy and trade with Portugal in a bid to raise the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries to a higher level.

Guo, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and secretary of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee, paid a three-day visit to Portugal heading a CPC delegation.

During his visit, which concluded on Thursday, Guo met with several top leaders such as Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, Prime Minister Antonio Costa, Socialist Party President Carlos Cesar, and main opposition Social Democratic Party President Pedro Passos Coelho.

Guo said that at the present time, China and Portugal have seen frequent contacts and exchanges at a high level and great achievements have been made in cooperation in such domains as economy and trade, investment, personnel and culture exchange.

The two countries have also had timely communication and coordination in international affairs, he added.

Guo said that China attaches great importance to the development of ties with Portugal and is willing to further strengthen mutual political trust, deepen pragmatic cooperation in economy and trade with Portugal, foster growth in the sectors of tourism, sea and third-party cooperation.

Guo spoke highly of the position of Portugal's two main parties to implement a friendly policy towards China.

He also expressed his hope that political parties in the two countries would continue to maintain the momentum of exchanges to further enhance mutual understanding and trust, value the concern of each other's core interests and safeguard and promote the healthy and steady development in China-Portugal ties as well as that of China-EU as a whole.

For his part, Portuguese President Rebelo de Sousa appreciated the achievement China has made in its development and hoped that the two countries would further strengthen political exchange, and expand cooperation in fields such as economy, trade, investment, tourism, education, and science and technology.

He also said that Portugal would continue to promote the development of ties between Europe and China.

Both Costa and Passos Coelho said that Portuguese political parties would continue to enhance exchanges and cooperation with the CPC and jointly promote mutual political trust between the two countries and friendship between the two peoples.

During his visit, Guo also inspected a program carried out by the Beijing Enterprises Water Group in Portugal and attended the Night of Beijing concert in Lisbon.