Portuguese President Jorge Sampaio said in Shanghai Friday that his country will set up its first consulate in Chinese mainland this year.

The consulate will located in Shanghai, China's economic hub, which Sampaio visited in his week-long China tour, the president told a business forum.

The establishment of the consulate was aimed at enhancing the two countries' cooperation in trade, investment, tourism, science and technology, culture, language and higher education, he noted.

Portuguese companies have many chances to explore the Chinese market, despite of the two countries' geographic and cultural differences, the president said.

Sino-Portuguese trade reached 520 million euros in 2003 and China has become one of Portugal's top 20 export market, Portuguese figures show.

Portugal and Shanghai also signed a memorandum of understanding on Shanghai World Expo.

According to the MOU, the two sides planned to cooperate on such areas as gardening planning, exhibition hall design, after-expo use of exhibition equipment and other relevant business planning, project management, personnel training and ticket strategy.

Portugal is eager to play its part in the preparatory works of the Shanghai World Expo, Sampaio said, adding that the Expo will become an important platform for enhancing mutual understanding for peoples worldwide.

The World Expo will be held in Shanghai from May 1 to Oct. 31 in 2010 with a theme of "better city, better life."

Sampaio arrived in Beijing Tuesday evening for a state visit to China as guest of President Hu Jintao.

During his stay in Beijing, Sampaio met with Chinese leaders and attended the opening ceremony of an exhibition on Sino-Portuguese cultural ties. He also delivered a speech at the Communication University of China.

Sampaio visited China in Feb. 1997, and attended the ceremony to mark China's resumption of sovereignty over Macao in 1999.

(Xinhua News Agency January 15, 2005)