Portuguese President Jorge Sampaio said Friday in Shanghai that his country will set up its first consulate in Chinese mainland this year.

The consulate will located in Shanghai, China's economic hub, which Sampaio visited in his week-long China tour, the president told a business forum.

The establishment of the consulate was aimed at enhancing the two countries' cooperation in trade, investment, tourism, science and technology, culture, language and higher education, he noted.

Portuguese companies have many chances to explore the Chinese market, despite of the two countries' geographic and cultural differences, the president said.

Sino-Portuguese trade reached 520 million euros in 2003 and China has become one of Portugal's top 20 export market, Portuguese figures show.

To further economic cooperation between east China and Portugal will push the two countries' friendship and cooperation to a new high, he said.

Sampaio arrived here Tuesday evening for a state visit to China as guest of President Hu Jintao.

During his stay in Beijing, Sampaio met with Chinese leaders and attended the opening ceremony of an exhibition on Sino-Portuguese cultural ties. He also delivered a speech at the Communication University of China.

Sampaio visited China in Feb. 1997, and attended the ceremony to mark China's resumption of sovereignty over Macao in 1999.