On November 7, 2010, Chinese President Hu Jintao concluded his state visit to Portugal and left Lisbon for home.

President Hu started his two-nation tour to Europe on Nov. 4. He first arrived in Paris on Nov. 4 and started a state visit to France. He left Nice, a southern city in France, on the afternoon of Nov. 6 and then arrived in Lisbon, starting his state visit to Portugal.

During his visit to Portugal, Hu Jintao held talks with Portuguese President Anibal Cavaco Silva and met with other leaders of Portugal. The two sides reviewed the development of bilateral relations over the past 30 years and more and planed the further development of bilateral relations for the expansion of pragmatic cooperation in various fields. The two sides also exchanged views on major regional and international issues of mutual interest. The two countries also signed a series of cooperation documents.

During the talks with President Hu and President Silva, the two sides agreed to work together to further promote the comprehensive strategic partnership. Hu pointed out, amidst the complex and volatile international situation, both sides should work together to push bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership to a higher level for the greater benefit of the people. Hu also made a few recommendations: to enhance political mutual trust and promote strategic cooperation; to explore economic and trade cooperation and deepen pragmatic cooperation; to expand people-to-people exchanges and enhance friendship between the people; to strengthen international cooperation and build a harmonious world.

During his visit to France, President Hu held talks with French President Nicolas Sarkozy and met with Prime Minister François Fillon and other French leaders. The two sides had an in-depth exchange of views on bilateral relations and regional and international issues of mutual interest.

During the talks between President Hu and President Sarkozy, the two sides agreed to further promote the comprehensive strategic partnership. President Hu stressed that against the background of the complex and volatile international situation, China hopes to add new connotations to the Sino-French relations and develop a mature, stable, global-oriented Sino-French comprehensive strategic partnership, which is based on mutual trust and mutual benefit so that it can play a positive role in developing the equal partnership between major powers in the world.

During his visit to France, China and France signed a series of cooperation agreements, involving nuclear, aviation, energy conservation, environmental protection and other areas.

China and France issued a joint statement on strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership. It is stressed in the joint statement that China and France, as permanent members of the UN Security Council and the world's two major economies, have special responsibilities. Sino-French relations should continue to play an exemplary role. The two countries not only need to make important contributions to world peace, stability and development, but also need to promote multilateralism in accordance with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and respect each other's independent choice of development paths. A new type future-oriented partnership between the major powers featuring equality, cooperation, inclusiveness, and mutual benefit should be established.

It is pointed out in the joint statement that both sides should deepen cooperation and coordination in international affairs to jointly cope with major global threat, especially the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery. The two sides should be committed to solving the regional hotspot issues including the Iranian nuclear issue, the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and the Afghan issue.

This is the second state visit to France by President Hu Jintao in the six years. During his state visit to France on January 2004, President Hu Jintao and President Jacques Chirac established the Sino-French comprehensive strategic partnership.

The current international situation is undergoing complex and profound changes. The recovery of world economy on the whole is gaining momentum, but the foundation for the recovery is still weak. The G20 Seoul Summit will soon open. The countries have high hopes for this summit. President Hu's visit to France and Portugal is an important diplomatic move taken under such a circumstance and is of important and positive significance to the friendly cooperation between China and France and between China and Portugal and to the healthy development of China-EU relations.