Visiting Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao stressed in Lisbon on Saturday the importance of cooperation between China and Portugal in language-teaching and education, saying this would be a "new shining point" for bilateral cooperation.

Wen made the remarks in addressing a symposium on Sino-Portuguese education cooperation and cultural diversity.

"This is the first time I attend such symposium overseas," the premier said at the beginning of his speech, winning warm applause from hundreds of scholars and university presidents from China and Portugal.

As China and Portugal have decided to elevate bilateral ties to an all-around strategic partnership, enhancing bilateral cooperation in language teaching and education should be a new shining point, Wen said.

"Because cultural exchange is the basis for the exchanges between Chinese and Portuguese people, and language is the tool for the communication between the two peoples," Wen said.

The premier thus proposed a four-point proposal in promoting cooperation in this field:

-- Language promotion departments and language teaching institutes from both countries should conduct more contacts and communication, so as to learn more from each other;

-- China and Portugal support each other in setting up " Confucius College" and "Portuguese Center";

-- To make full use of modern technology to conduct remote language teaching through the Internet;

-- To conduct more communication and exchange of visits among students from both countries.

Wen also appreciated Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates' proposal of sending 50 Portuguese students each year to China for internship and suggested keeping such good practice.

During Wen's visit to Portugal, two universities from China and Portuguese signed a pact to set the "Confucius College" in Portugal.

Source: Xinhua