China is ready to make joint efforts with Portugal to further promote economic and trade cooperation between the two countries, Chinese Minister of Commerce Chen Deming said Saturday.

Addressing a forum on China-Portugal economic and trade cooperation, Chen also made a number of proposals on deepening bilateral trade and economic cooperation.

These include striving to maintain a balanced growth in bilateral trade and boost cooperation in two-way investments, enhancing cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries and expanding exchanges and cooperation between Chinese and Portuguese enterprises, according to Chen.

Chen was visiting Portugal as the head of a large trade and investment promotion mission made up of nearly 200 business people from more than 150 Chinese enterprises in 20 provinces and municipalities.

Amid the spreading international financial crisis and global economic woes, he said, the mission would help promote cooperation between Chinese and Portuguese enterprises and also boost their confidence in overcoming the crisis.

The mission would also inject fresh vigor into the economic and trade cooperation between the two countries, he said.

During the visit, China and Portugal also signed a series of commercial contracts and agreements of intent on cooperation.

(Xinhua News Agency July 12, 2009)