Portugal's new President Anibal Cavaco Silva said on Thursday he will do his utmost as usual to promote the traditional friendly and cooperative ties between Portugal and China.

Silva made the pledge at a meeting with Chinese President Hu Jintao's special envoy Wang Xudong who came to attend his swearing-in ceremony on Thursday.

Wang, Chinese minister of information industry, extended Hu's sincere greetings and congratulations to Silva, calling him an "old friend" of the Chinese people who had devoted himself to boosting Sino-Portuguese and Sino-European relations and a smooth settlement of the Macao issue.

China and Portugal have forged a comprehensive strategic partnership recently and are facing a new opportunity in developing bilateral relations, Wang added.

Silva thanked the Chinese president for sending a special envoy to attend his inauguration, saying that he always cherished a "special friendly feeling" toward the Chinese people.

Silva, 66, won the presidential election in January. He had acted as prime minister of Portugal.

Source: Xinhua