Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao arrived in Lisbon Friday for a two-day official visit to Portugal to promote bilateral cooperation.

In a written statement released upon his arrival at the airport, Wen said during the visit he hoped to exchange views with Portuguese leaders on further deepening the bilateral cooperation of mutual benefit in various fields.

He also expressed his expectation for extensive contacts with various social groups so as to increase understanding, expand common recognition and jointly open up a bright future for the Sino-Portuguese cooperation.

Though far apart geographically, China and Portugal have shared a long history of contacts, with the two peoples having friendly sentiments toward each other, Wen said.

Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 1979, the relations between the two countries have achieved a stable development, the premier said.

The smooth solution to the Macao issue in 1999 turned a new page for the all-round development of bilateral relations, he added.

In recent years, Wen said, the political trust between the two sides has been ever growing, with remarkable results achieved in cooperation in the fields of trade and economy, science and technology as well as culture and education.

Currently, the premier said, both China and Portugal are undergoing an important phase for development, and continuously deepening and enriching the friendly cooperative relations are in conformity to the fundamental interests of the two sides.

Wen is expected to meet Portuguese President Jorge Sampaio, Parliament Speaker Jaime Gama, and hold talks with Prime Minister Jose Socrates on increasing bilateral cooperation in a variety of fields. He will also be present at a ceremony for signing a number of bilateral cooperation agreements between China and Portugal.

Wen flew here following a two-day official visit to the Czech Republic.

Portugal is the fourth leg of his five-nation Euro-Asia tour, which has taken him to France, Slovakia and Czech, and will take him to Malaysia.

Source: Xinhua