Around 60 Portuguese companies, including almost 50 wine producers, are taking part in two trade fairs in Shanghai, Pro Wine China and Food and Hospitality China, with a view to boosting Portuguese exports, Portuguese news agency Lusa reported on Wednesday.

Portuguese Minister for Agriculture and the Sea Assuncao Cristas attended the inauguration of both fairs, and headed up what is considered to be one of the largest agro-food delegation from Portugal to the Chinese market.

The two fairs opened Wednesday for three days and involve hundreds of exhibitors from dozens of countries.

Portuguese companies are increasingly looking to the growing Chinese market to export their products. In the first nine months of 2014, Portuguese exports to China rose 27 percent year-on-year to just over 1 billion euros (1.24 billion US dollars), according to figures from China's Customs Services.

Portugal's agriculture minister is the first of eight members of the Portuguese government due to visit China before the end of November, Lusa noted.