Beijing (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – During a meeting with Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro in Beijing on Tuesday, President Xi Jinping said China and the European Union should enhance communication and deepen cooperation, particularly as the world grows more complicated and turbulent.
Luís Montenegro is visiting China from September 8-10, 2025. It will be his first official visit to China. He will have meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang, and Chairman of the NPC Standing Committee Zhao Leji.
China is willing to collaborate closely with Portugal in multilateral efforts to protect the free trade system and promote a fairer and more reasonable global governance system, state news agency Xinhua quoted Xi as saying.
How does Xi see China-EU ties in turbulent times?
“The more turbulent and intertwined the international landscape becomes, the greater the need for China and Europe to strengthen communication, enhance mutual trust, and deepen co-operation,”
The Chinese leader stated.
Xi Jinping expressed his hope that Portugal would uphold the partnership between China and the EU and help foster the sustainable, stable, and healthy development of China-EU relations.
The Chinese leader stated that the world is once again experiencing a period of upheaval and transformation. Xi Jinping highlighted that China is prepared to work closely with Portugal through multilateral cooperation, aiming to foster genuine multilateralism, support the authority of the United Nations and the free trade system, and help build a more equitable and balanced global governance system.
When did the former PM Costa visit China?
António Costa, who was formerly the Prime Minister of Portugal, went to China during his time as Prime Minister from 8-12 October 2016. On the visit, he met the Chinese president Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People. Costa attended the fifth Ministerial Conference of the Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China, Portuguese-speaking countries (Comunidade dos Países de Língua Portuguesa) during the visit, with destinations to Beijing, Shanghai, and Macao.
