The Portuguese parliament speaker Wednesday lauded Portugal-China relations while meeting with a visiting delegation from the National People's Congress (NPC) of China.

Bilateral relations between Portugal and China have been growing smoothly since the two countries established diplomatic ties 30 years ago, Speaker Jaime Gama said during talks with Nan Zhenzhong, head of the NPC delegation. Nan is also the chairman of the China-Portugal friendship group under the NPC.

Gama hailed the remarkable achievements China has made during the past three decades of reform and opening-up, adding Portugal highly values its friendship with China.

He also spoke highly of China's role in the global economy and in tackling the international financial crisis.

Expressing hopes to step up exchanges between Portugal's parliament and China's NPC, Gama called on the two countries to enhance mutual understanding and strengthen friendship so as to promote in-depth development of bilateral ties.

The year 2009 marks the 30th anniversary of China-Portugal diplomatic ties, said Nan.

Over the past 30 years, China and Portugal have carried out frequent high-level exchanges, and political mutual trust between the two countries has been deepened, he added.

Nan also hailed the rapid development of bilateral cooperation in economy, trade, culture, science and education, saying the traditional friendship between the peoples of China and Portugal has been consolidated.

(Xinhua News Agency February 12, 2009)