In 2021, the comprehensive strategic partnership between the People’s Republic of China and the Portuguese Republic progressed steadily, with exchanges and cooperation deepening in various fields.

The two countries maintained sound high-level interactions. In January, President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory message to Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa on his reelection. In August, President Xi Jinping and President Rebelo de Sousa spoke on the phone, and reached important consensus on promoting bilateral relations and deepening practical cooperation. In July, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Portuguese Minister of State and Foreign Affairs Augusto Santos Silvia held the first China-Portugal strategic dialogue at the foreign ministers’ level via video link, and had an in-depth exchange of views on China-Portugal relations, China-EU relations and international and regional issues of mutual interest. In June, Secretary-General of the Portuguese Communist Party Jerónimo de Sousa and President of the Portuguese Social Democratic Party Rui Rio sent congratulatory letters on the 100th anniversary of the founding of the CPC.

Bilateral cooperation in such fields as economy, trade and people-to-people exchanges continued to make progress. In 2021, two-way trade between China and Portugal rose by 26.7% year on year. China remained Portugal’s largest trading partner in Asia and became the biggest importer of Portuguese frozen pork. Portugal participated in the fourth China International Import Expo and opened a country pavilion online. China Communications Construction Company acquired 33.07% stake in Portuguese Mota-Engil Group. The floating wind power high-voltage submarine cable project in northern Portugal and the Solara4 PV plant project both undertaken by Chinese companies were completed. In December, Minister of Science and Technology and Higher Education of Portugal Manuel Heitor held a virtual meeting, before which the two ministers attended the Kick-off Workshop for the China-Portugal Starlab under the Belt and Road Initiative. TV shows Hello China and Panda and Rooster jointly produced by China Central Television and Radio e Televisao de Portugal were well received in Portugal. In September, the Overseas Education Service Center of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University was inaugurated in Portugal.

In March, China’s new ambassador to Portugal Zhao Bentang presented his credentials to President Rebelo de Sousa.