In a significant move to bolster bilateral economic relations, Chinese Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao met with Portuguese Economy Minister Pedro Reis in Lisbon on Tuesday. The discussions centered around advancing trade measures and enhancing cooperation between the two nations.
Wang expressed China's commitment to collaborating with Portugal to implement the outcomes of the 6th Ministerial Conference of the Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries, commonly known as Forum Macao, which was held in Macao earlier this year.
A key topic of the talks was fair competition. Wang criticized recent trade protection measures by the European Union, highlighting that they have disrupted mutually beneficial industrial cooperation and shaken the confidence of Chinese enterprises investing in Europe. He emphasized that protectionism is not a sustainable solution but rather a dangerous path that could hinder global economic growth.
Advocating for equal discussions, Wang called on the EU to engage in dialogues addressing economic and trade concerns, promoting fair competition through expanded cooperation to improve China-European economic and trade relations.
Echoing Wang's sentiments, Minister Reis stated that expanding cooperation and ensuring fair competition are essential strategies to counteract trade protectionism. He underscored the necessity of strengthening collaboration between Chinese and Portuguese businesses to inject positive energy into global economic development.
Reis also highlighted Portugal's willingness to enhance cooperation with China in various sectors, including mutual investment, agricultural and food product trade, people-to-people exchanges, and collaboration in third-party markets. Additionally, he emphasized the importance of elevating the role of Forum Macao in fostering these collaborative efforts.
These talks signify a proactive step by both China and Portugal to navigate the challenges posed by protectionist policies and to reinforce their economic ties for mutual growth and stability in the global market.
Reference(s):
Chinese commerce minister meets with Portuguese economy minister
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