China, Portugal to deepen cultural exchanges

A senior official of the Communist Party of China (CPC) called on Wednesday for deepening cooperation with Portugal in cultural and people-to-people exchanges.

"China would like to work with Portugal to keep on deepening pragmatic cooperation in cultural and people-to-people exchanges so as to promote cultural blending and mutual learning between the Chinese and Western civilizations," Liu Yunshan, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, said at a meeting with Portuguese President Anibal Cavaco Silva.

Liu said that cultural and people-to-people exchanges serve as an important basis for the healthy development of relations between countries, adding that China and Portugal have seen their cultural interaction broadened and enriched in recent years, which has consolidated the popular support for bilateral cooperation.

For his part, Silva said that he agreed with Liu's proposal for deepening cultural exchanges between his country and China.

Portugal and China have maintained very good cooperation in education, and should further expand their cultural and people-to-people exchanges, so that the two peoples can better understand each other, Silva said.

The Portuguese president also called for more Chinese investments in the Southern European country.

This year marks the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Portugal.

"Our bilateral relations have achieved remarkable progress in the past 35 years, especially since 2005 when China and Portugal forged a comprehensive strategic partnership," Liu said.

Portugal is the last leg of Liu's four-country European tour, which has taken him to Denmark, Finland and Ireland.