Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao met in Beijing Tuesday afternoon with Portuguese Foreign Minister Teresa Patricio Gouveia and her party.  

Wen said the two countries have witnessed smooth development of bilateral relations since China and Portugal established diplomatic ties 25 years ago.

The two sides have successfully solved the Macao issue, he said. Five years since Macao returned to the motherland, the Macao Special Administrative Region has maintained stability with the implementing of the principles of "one country, two systems", "Macao people governing Macao" and "high degree of autonomy", he said.

The Chinese side is convinced that the development of bilateral relations between China and Portugal is promising, he said.

Gouveia said Portugal values its relations with China and firmly supports the one-China principle, and maintaining the sovereignty and territorial integrity of China should be respected.

She said Portugal is willing to urge the European Union to lift the arms sale embargo on China as soon as possible.

In the meantime, the Portugal government is ready to strengthen economic cooperation with China and promote exchanges between enterprises of the two countries.

(Xinhua News Agency March 3, 2004)