Portugal's secretary of state for culture, Jorge Barreto Xavier, initiated an official visit to China on Friday to enhance cultural relations between both countries.

The director of Arts, Samuel Rego, and the director of Books, Archives and Libraries, Jose Manuel Cortes will also be present. The vice-president of the Institute of Cinema and Audiovisual, Ana Costa Dias, is also attending the 5-day visit.

The 5-day visit, taking place from November 14 to 18, aims to enhance cultural relations and analyze possibilities of cooperation in areas like arts, books and archives and cinema and audiovisual.

The Portuguese officials will also present the initiatives of cooperation between Portugal and China, according to a statement by the secretary of state, sent to Xinhua.

They will meet with several Chinese officials in Beijing including the Director of National Art Museum of China and the Director of the China Film Archive.

Portugal and China have strengthened their economic and cultural ties in recent times.