Xi Jinping published a signed article in the Portuguese media: friendship across time and space, partners for the future

People's Daily Online, Beijing, December 3. On December 3, on the eve of his state visit to the Republic of Portugal, President Xi Jinping published a signed article entitled "Friendship Across Time and Space, Partners for the Future" in the Portuguese "News Daily. The article is as follows:

Friendship across time and space Partner for the future

the People's Republic of China President Xi Jinping

"The land ends here, and the sea begins here." The famous sentence of Portuguese "Poetic Soul" Cammons from generation to generation vividly depicts the superior geographical location of his motherland. Twenty years ago, I had the opportunity to visit Portugal, and in 2014 I crossed the island of Tsera. At the invitation of President De Sousa, I am sincerely pleased to set foot on this fertile soil again and pay a state visit to your country.

In recent years, Portugal has successfully responded to the challenges of the European sovereign debt crisis, and has made important achievements in developing the national economy, promoting national culture, and promoting social progress. as a sincere friend of the portuguese people, the chinese people express their admiration for this.

Although China and Portugal are located at the east and west ends of the Eurasian continent, the friendship between the two peoples has a long history and has been strong for a long time. Hundreds of years ago, Chinese blue and white porcelain traveled across the sea to Portugal and merged with the local porcelain making technology to form the unique charm of "Portuguese blue". The city of Freso in northeastern Portugal has long used silkworm weaving technology originating from China and enjoys the reputation of "Silk Town. In contemporary times, good stories about friendly exchanges between the two peoples continue to emerge. An old Chinese teacher couple overcame the difficulties of illness and taught Chinese language and spread Chinese culture in Portugal for decades. Many excellent Portuguese football coaches and players have been coaching or playing football in Chinese clubs, creating a "Portuguese style" in Chinese football. Portuguese egg tarts baked by Chinese chefs have become a new food choice for ordinary people. There are many more such stories, witnessing the friendship between the two peoples across time and space.

Diplomatic relations between China and Portugal were established in February 1979. In two months, the two countries will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. Over the past 40 years, Sino-Portuguese relations have maintained steady and rapid development and have gone through an extraordinary course. The two sides have always trusted, respected and helped each other, and have become a model of win-win cooperation between countries with different social systems, historical backgrounds and sizes in the world.

Over the past 40 years, the two sides have consistently viewed their relations from a strategic and long-term perspective. In 1999, through peaceful consultations, the two countries properly resolved the Macao issue left over from history, ushering in a new era of Macao's development and a new era of Sino-Portuguese relations. In 2005, the two countries established a comprehensive strategic partnership. The two sides have frequent high-level exchanges, deepening political mutual trust, and fruitful practical cooperation in various fields. China-Portugal friendship and cooperation have entered the fast lane of development.

Over the past 40 years, the two sides have carried out pragmatic cooperation in the spirit of equality, mutual benefit and win-win cooperation. After the 2008 international financial crisis and the European sovereign debt crisis, the Chinese government and the Portuguese government worked together to resist risks and meet challenges. Chinese enterprises are eager to invest in Portugal, which not only creates local jobs and helps Portugal's economic and social development, but also expands their overseas business.

Over the past 40 years, the two sides have adhered to the concept of exchanges, mutual learning and common progress to promote people-to-people exchanges. At the beginning of the establishment of diplomatic relations, there were only a handful of visits between the two countries each year, and there are currently more than 300000 two-way personnel exchanges each year. At present, 17 universities in China have established Portuguese courses; Portugal has opened 4 Confucius Institutes, and many universities have established Chinese courses. The close exchanges between the two sides in the fields of film and television media, performances and exhibitions, and local people have laid a public opinion foundation for the long-term development of bilateral relations.

At present, China and Portugal are at a critical stage of their respective development. China is deepening reform and opening wider to the outside world. Portugal is also making great efforts to seek greater development. China is willing to work with Portugal to continue to deepen mutual understanding and trust, continuously expand the depth and breadth of practical cooperation, further enrich the connotation of China-Portugal comprehensive strategic partnership, and jointly create a better tomorrow for China-Portugal relations.

First, strengthen high-level exchanges and be friends of mutual respect and trust. We support the governments, parliaments and political parties of the two countries to maintain regular exchanges and policy communication. The two sides should always understand and respect each other's core interests and major concerns and provide a solid political guarantee for the long-term development of bilateral relations. China hopes and believes that Portugal will continue to play an active role in the EU and promote the four major partnerships of peace, growth, reform and civilization between China and the EU.

Second, jointly build "the belt and road initiative" and be a partner for joint development. Portugal is an important hub connecting the land Silk Road and the Maritime Silk Road, and China and Portugal have natural advantages in carrying out "Belt and Road Initiative" cooperation. The two sides should take the joint construction of the "Belt and Road" as an opportunity to continue to expand and strengthen existing projects, make good use of platforms such as the China International Import Expo, expand bilateral trade exchanges, and create more in the fields of port construction, automobiles, new energy, and finance. Cooperation growth points, strengthen third-party market cooperation, and achieve mutual benefit and win-win results on a larger scale.

Third, deepen people-to-people exchanges and be a messenger of friendship. The two sides agreed to hold cultural festivals next year to strengthen cooperation in exhibitions, performances, film and television, and media. The two sides should continue to deepen cooperation in language teaching and expand the scale of international student exchanges. The two sides should continue to support cooperation between aviation enterprises of the two countries and create convenient conditions for two-way personnel exchanges.

Fourth, carry out maritime cooperation and be the pioneer of the "blue economy. Portugal is known as the "hometown of navigation", with a long history of marine culture and rich experience in the development and utilization of marine resources. We should actively develop the "blue partnership" and encourage the two sides to strengthen cooperation in marine scientific research, marine development and protection, and port logistics construction, so as to develop the "blue economy" and let the vast ocean benefit future generations.

Fifth, close multilateral coordination and be the builder and defender of the international system. the two sides share similar and identical positions on many major international and regional issues. China is willing to strengthen communication and coordination with Portugal in global governance, climate change, and UN Security Council reform within the framework of the United Nations and the World Trade Organization. The two sides should adhere to the common concept of openness and inclusiveness, support multilateralism and free trade, and jointly promote world peace, stability and prosperity.

Portugal is the last stop on my trip to Europe, Latin America and the G20 summit in Buenos Aires. During this visit, I crossed the Eurasian continent and visited both sides of the Atlantic. I felt the strong call of the international community to follow the trend of the times, adhere to multilateralism, and improve global governance. The people of all countries look forward to peace and tranquility, pursue development and progress, and live a happy life. Good wishes. In the face of various problems and challenges in the world today, China firmly believes that only by following mutual respect, equal consultation, peaceful development and win-win cooperation can we achieve long-term stability in the world and common development of mankind.

Sino-Portuguese relations are not what they used to be, and there are broad prospects for Sino-Portuguese cooperation. It is believed that with the joint efforts of both sides, the ship of Sino-Portuguese relations in the new era will drum up sails and sail to a more brilliant future, which will not only bring more well-being to the people of the two countries, but also make greater contributions to building a community with a shared future for mankind.

Source: People's Daily Online