Chinese and Portuguese presidents pledged in Beijing Wednesday that the two countries will promote exchanges and cooperation in various fields and at all levels for the full growth of bilateral ties in the new century.

President Hu Jintao said in his talks with visiting Portuguese President Jorge Sampaio that the Sino-Portuguese relations witnessed smooth development since the establishment of the diplomatic ties in 1979.Such ties has ushered into a new phase after the two countries successfully resolved the Macao issue through friendly consultations at the end of last century.

In recent years, the two countries have witnessed even frequent exchanges and contacts with steadily increasing trade and investment and sound cooperation in international affairs, Hu noted.

Hu expressed his appreciation to Portugal's support to the one-China policy and China reunification cause, and thanked the country's endeavor to promote Sino-Portuguese and China-European relations.

Sampaio said that the smooth return of Macao to China five years ago provided a strategic opportunity for the two countries to enhance friendly cooperation. He reiterated that the steady development of ties with China and the adherence to the one-China policy constitute an important parts of Portugal's foreign policy.

To further promote the all-round growth of China-Portugal ties, Hu said that China is willing to make concerted efforts with Portugal for the maintenance of high-level visits and contacts, the enhancement of the friendly exchanges among the parliaments and political parties, and the closer consultation and cooperation between the foreign ministries and other governmental departments so as to deepen mutual political trust.

China would expand the economic and trade cooperation with Portugal and support the Chinese and Portuguese companies to explore new ways and means to undertake mutually beneficial cooperation, Hu said.

Moreover, Hu suggested China and Portugal to further expand the exchanges and cooperation in the fields of higher education, science and technology and judicature by supporting language education in Chinese and Portuguese, increasing the number of students studying in the other country, jointly hosting cultural and sports event and setting up joint laboratories.

China and Portugal should further enhance coordination and cooperation in international affairs for the maintenance of world peace and stability and the promotion of common development, Hu said.

The Chinese president also highlighted that the economic and trade cooperation forum among China and Portuguese-speaking countries held in Macao is a new platform for the two sides to boost trade relations, noting that China values the role of the forum in promoting economic cooperation among China and Portuguese-speaking countries.

After expressing his full agreement, Sampaio said that the Portuguese-Chinese friendly cooperation boasts great prospect and the pragmatic proposals set forth by China carry significant meanings to further the current bilateral relations.

Some 120 entrepreneurs accompanied Sampaio to visit China. The move demonstrated that the Portuguese business community attaches importance and has high expectation to the cooperation with China, Sampaio noted.

The two heads of state also touched upon the situation of China's Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR).

Hu said since Macao returned to the motherland, all practices have proven that the principles of "one country, two systems", "Macao people governing Macao", and high-level autonomy have been fully implemented in the region.

The rights and lifestyle of the Macao residents, including citizens of Portuguese stock, have been fully guaranteed. Macao remains a hub where west meets east and continues to play its unique role as a bridge of Sino-Portuguese friendship and a platform for cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, Hu said.

Sampaio said that the smooth solution of the Macao issue between Portugal and China set an example for properly settling problems left by history among nations. He also spoke highly of the achievements made by Macao since 1999.

The Portuguese president vowed that Portugal will contribute its own efforts for promoting friendly cooperation between Portuguese-speaking countries and China.

The two heads of state also exchanged views on major international and regional issues.

After the talks, officials from the two countries signed an inter-governmental agreement on economic cooperation and other cooperative documents.

(Xinhua News Agencys January 13, 2005)