China Portugal photo:VCG

Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro arrived in Beijing on Monday for his first official visit to China, which will run through Wednesday, according to a CGTN social media post. Analysts said the trip sends a positive signal at a time when some European countries are divided over relations with China, highlighting the solid foundation and promising outlook of China-Portugal cooperation.

"This is Prime Minister Luís Montenegro's first visit to China. During the visit, President Xi Jinping will meet with him. Premier Li Qiang and Chairman of the NPC Standing Committee Zhao Leji will have talks and meet with him respectively. They will have in-depth exchanges of views on bilateral relations and issues of mutual interest," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said at a regular press conference earlier.

According to the Portuguese government's website, Montenegro is accompanied by the Minister of State and Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Economy and Territorial Cohesion, and the Minister of Environment and Energy. The program includes a tribute at the Monument to the People's Heroes, the signing of bilateral legal instruments, and an official banquet.

Portuguese media also highlighted the special nature of this visit, noting that "the trip to China and Japan, with a total of four days of official program, takes place nine years after former prime minister António Costa visited China in 2016 and President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa traveled there in 2019," according to Renascença. 

Renascença also cited a source from the prime minister's office who framed Luís Montenegro's visit to China as part of Portugal's "diplomatic tradition," stressing that all Portuguese presidents and several prime ministers have visited the country, the world's second-largest economy and a permanent member of the UN Security Council.

On the same day, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met in Beijing with Portugal's Minister of State and Foreign Affairs Paulo Rangel. Wang noted that this year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. He stressed that China commemorates this historic moment to honor history, remember the martyrs, cherish peace, and open up the future, and expressed gratitude to Portugal for sending representatives to attend the commemorative events. 

Wang emphasized that China and Portugal had set a model of peacefully resolving disputes through negotiations when they properly settled the Macao question. 

In today's complex and uncertain international environment, he said, countries need more dialogue, understanding and cooperation. Against this backdrop, President Xi proposed the Global Governance Initiative. China is ready to work together with Portugal to advance global governance in a way that is more just, reasonable, and effective, and to contribute its due share to the cause of peace and development for humanity.

This year also marks the 20th anniversary of the China-Portugal comprehensive strategic partnership, and Prime Minister Montenegro's visit holds special significance in this context, Wang said. China stands ready to work with Portugal to ensure the visit's success, deepen friendship, and push bilateral ties to a new level.

Rangel thanked China for actively preparing for Montenegro's visit, noting that Portugal attaches great importance to relations with China and hopes to use this visit to further bilateral cooperation. He said the settlement of the Macao question through friendly consultation set an example for the world. 

Facing many global challenges, Portugal supports multilateralism and dialogue to resolve disputes, and shares broad consensus with China on international issues. He also voiced willingness to strengthen cooperation within the UN and other multilateral frameworks, adding that the Global Development Initiative reflects principles needed to tackle pressing global challenges.

As a participant in the Belt and Road Initiative, Portugal has already launched multiple cooperation projects with China. Montenegro's visit, coming at a time when some European countries are adopting a less active approach toward China, also reflects Portugal's independent and constructive stance, Cui Hongjian, director of the Department of European Studies at the China Institute of International Studies, told the Global Times on Monday. 

Cui noted that the prime minister's tribute at the Monument to the People's Heroes, even though he did not attend China's V-Day commemorations, demonstrates that on the issue of jointly opposing fascism and in the area of upholding global governance, Portugal shares a consensus with China.

During a previous press conference, Guo also underscored the positive momentum in bilateral relations. "China and Portugal enjoy traditional friendship. In recent years, under the strategic guidance of the leaders of the two countries, the two sides have stayed committed to the strategic direction featuring mutual respect, openness and inclusiveness and joint effort, and achieved positive outcomes in exchange and cooperation in such areas as trade, green development, technology and culture, delivering tangibly for the two peoples," Guo said.

"This year marks the 20th anniversary of the China-Portugal comprehensive strategic partnership. Through this visit, China stands ready to work with Portugal to deepen strategic mutual trust, enhance friendly exchanges, expand mutually beneficial cooperation through high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and advance the China-Portugal comprehensive strategic partnership," Guo added.

Cui noted that stable and constructive China-Portugal ties can also play a positive role in broader China-EU relations by encouraging genuine multilateralism. 

Despite recent unfriendly remarks from some European politicians, China and Portugal have continued to strengthen cooperation, Sun Yanhong, a senior research fellow at the Institute of European Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Monday. Sun added that national interests vary among European countries, but China-Portugal ties show the positive momentum in China-Europe relations.