Chinese President Hu Jintao met with Portuguese Prime Minister Pedro Santana Lopes in Porto, port city in northern Portugal Wednesday en route to Brazil.

Lopes welcomed Hu Jintao on behalf of Portuguese President Jorge Sampaio and the Portuguese Government. He spoke highly of China's economic development and its positive impact on the Asia-Pacific region and the world at large, and said the Portuguese Government hopes to strengthen cooperation with China in various areas.

The Portuguese prime minister said the Portuguese Government encourages its entrepreneurs to invest in China and participate in the construction of the Beijing 2008 Olympiad as well as the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai.

Lopes told Hu that President Sampaio will visit China in January next year, and that visit will surely promote the development of Portugal-China relations.

Lopes reiterated that the Portuguese Government firmly upholds the one-China policy and fully respects the stance and feelings of the Chinese Government and people on the issue of Taiwan.

Hu Jintao was traveling to Latin America for state visits to Brazil, Argentina, Chile and Cuba, and to attend the informal leaders' summit meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) later this month in Chile.

Hu Jintao said China-Portugal relations have entered a new stage of development characterized by frequent top-level visits and increased political trust.

China and Portugal share similar or identical views on many international issues and have had good cooperation at the United Nations and other world organizations, Hu noted.

The Chinese president said he is expecting President Sampaio's visit to Beijing early next year. He said China appreciates the one-China policy of Portugal and is committed to promoting the overall development of China-Portugal relations.

"We are ready to work with the Portuguese side and bring bilateral relations to a higher level," Hu Jintao said.

Hu Jintao also exchanged views with Lopes over the development of China-EU strategic partnership relations.