Chinese premier starts official visit to Portugal

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (R2), accompanied by Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates (R1), attends a welcome ceremony in Lisbon, capital city of Portugal, Dec. 9, 2005.

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

Wen is expected to meet with Portuguese President Jorge Sampaio, Parliament Speaker Jaime Gama, and hold talks with Prime Minister Jose Socrates on expansion of bilateral cooperation in various fields.

He will also be present at a ceremony for signing a number of bilateral cooperation agreements between China and Portugal.

Wen flew in 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 the Czech Republic, and will take him to Malaysia after the visit to Portugal.

Source: Xinhua