China and Portugal Issues a Joint Press Communiqué, January 13, 2005

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The People's Republic of China and the Republic of Portugal issued a joint press communiqué on January 13,2005. The full text of the communiqué is as follows:

The Joint Press Communiqué between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Portugal

(January 13 2005)

1. On the special occasion of the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Portugal, Portuguese President Jorge Sampaio is paying a state visit to China from January 11 to 17, 2005 at the invitation of Chinese President Hu Jintao.

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2. China and Portugal reaffirm the friendship on the basis of mutual respect and pledge concerted efforts to consolidate and enrich relations in all areas, especially in the economic field.

3. China and Portugal hold positive comments on the bilateral relations since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1979 and reiterate to further consolidate bilateral ties through strengthening high-level reciprocal visits and bilateral contacts and deepening cooperation in economy, culture, science and technology.

4. Approved by the Chinese government, the Portuguese government decides to open a consulate general in Shanghai and dispatch an honorary consul to Hong Kong in 2005.

5. China and Portugal sing high praise for the achievements the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) has scored since its establishment five years ago and extend appreciation to the implementation of the Joint Declaration. The two sides agree that the Macao SAR should continue to play an important role in furthering the exchanges and cooperation between China and Portugal.

6. China and Portugal highly value exchanges and cooperation in economy, culture, science & technology, tourism, judicial and other areas between the two countries and believe that the signing of related agreements during the visit of Portuguese president will be conducive to strengthening bilateral cooperation in the above-mentioned fields.

7. China and Portugal are dedicated to deepening economic ties and pledge to take measures, especially by promoting trade opportunities between the two countries and with a third country as well as the potentials for cooperation, to provide convenience for exchanges and cooperation in trade, investment and tourism between businesses of both countries. Having realized the importance of establishing cooperative relations between businesses and the interests of each other, both countries are willing to create conditions to support their businesses, especially the cooperation between small- and medium-sized enterprises, and promote the balanced growth of bilateral trade.

8. China and Portugal attach importance to the role of Macao SAR as an important regional platform for the promotion of trade in goods and services. The recent signing of new economic agreements (the Mainland and Macao Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement and the Framework Agreement of Regional Cooperation in Pan-Pearl River Delta Region) has enhanced the platform role of Macao SAR. Both sides stress the role of the Economic and Trade Cooperation Forum between China and Portuguese-Speaking Countries (Macao) in developing the economic and business relations between China and Portuguese-speaking countries and reaffirm to be committed to deepening the cooperation between the two countries within the framework. 9. China and Portugal view the tourism industry as a driver of economic development and important means to develop closer ties between the peoples of two countries. The two sides encourage the cooperation between the tourism administrations and entrepreneurs of both countries and wish to expand exchanges of tourists on the basis of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Tourism Destinations between China and EU, which have come into force in September 2004. 10. China and Portugal acknowledge the important role of developing cultural ties in shortening the distance between the peoples and societies of both countries and in consolidating the bilateral relations in every arena. Therefore both sides encourage the collaboration between the universities and colleges between two countries, and particularly promote the teaching of Chinese in Portugal and the teaching of Portuguese in China at the language education level. 11. China and Portugal reiterate the willingness to push forward the exchanges in the field of science and technology and higher education by offering scholarship to students of two countries.

12. China and Portugal are willing to further strengthen the cooperation in the judicial area and further dialogues on the issue of rule of law. Both sides have studied the possibility of carrying out cooperation between the highest courts of two countries especially through the regular exchange of visits of judges.

13. China and Portugal express the willingness to enhance the exchanges between the official TV stations of the two countries through various activities such as broadcasting programs, carrying out training and developing new technologies.

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14. China and Portugal are glad to see the sound development of relationship between China and EU. Both countries express readiness to continue to make contributions to the consolidation of ties between China and EU in politics, economy and other areas.

15. Portugal reiterates to support the one-China policy and opposes any unilateral action that aims to change the status of Taiwan, or leads to escalation of the tense situation across the Taiwan Strait or to the Taiwan independence. The Portuguese side believes that the constructive dialogues should be the basis of relationship across the Taiwan Strait so that the Taiwan issue can be peacefully resolved and the stability and prosperity in the region be guaranteed. 16. China and Portugal reiterate the significance for EU to lift the arms embargo on China at an early date on the consolidation of the political ties between China and EU. The Portuguese side expresses the readiness to make efforts to fulfill this objective in accordance with its stance adopted at the 7th China-EU Leaders' Summit on December 8 2004.

17. China and Portugal feel happy to see the dynamism of China-EU relations in the field of trade and investment and emphasize upon the importance of carrying out cooperation in new areas such as strengthening industrial dialogue and protecting Intellectual Property Right (IPR).

18. China and Portugal stress the significance for EU to grant the full market economy status to China in a bid to deepen the all-round strategic partnership between China and EU. Portugal speaks positively of China for choosing to develop market economy. Both sides welcome the establishment of China-EU Work Group for actively resolving the issue.

19. China and Portugal will strive to strengthen dialogues and cooperation between China and EU on personnel exchanges and the crackdown of illegal immigration. China and EU should open talks on a repatriation pact at an early date.

20. China and Portugal reaffirm the importance of promoting and protecting human rights and stress the importance of carrying out the existing dialogues between China and EU in this area. Both sides agree that China-EU dialogues are conducive to promoting human rights cause and agree to strengthen and deepen China-EU dialogues in this regard on the basis of equality and mutual respect.

21. China and Portugal stress the necessity of developing close cooperation with international human rights organizations within the framework of UN. The Portuguese side appreciates China for the efforts to approve International Covenant on Civil Rights and Political Rights within a short period of time. 22. China and Portugal are aware of the importance of maintaining regional stability. Therefore, both sides stress the necessity of continuing the six-party talks on the nuclear issue of the Korean Peninsula. China plays a significant role in resolving the issue.

23. China and Portugal are convinced that United Nations (UN) plays a fundamental role in resolving issues troubling the international community in the early 21st century. Both countries welcome The Report of the High Level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change released on December 2 2004 and hope that the suggestions put forward in the report are conducive to the reform process of UN. 24. China and Portugal reiterate the commitments to multilateralism and express the wish to deepen the consultation and cooperation within the scope of UN and make contributions to strengthen multilateralism and UN reform process.

25. China and Portugal make a resolve to strengthen cooperation to deal with new challenges such as AIDS and to fight against security threats such as terrorism, drug trafficking, and organized crimes.

26. China and Portugal declare that they will cooperate in international organizations to fight against terrorism in all forms to safeguard respect for human rights, fundamental freedom and a rule of law society.

27. China and Portugal believe that terrorism in all forms is a serious threat to international peace and security and an obstacle to the economic and social progress. Therefore, the two sides reaffirm their support to multilateralism in fighting against terrorism and stress that United Nations (UN) should play a key role in this process.

28. China and Portugal are sure that against the backdrop of globalization, only the efforts made by the international community can justly resolve the issues that the world is facing and enhance the welfare of people in the world

29. President Jorge Sampaio thanks President Hu Jintao for the warm reception during his visit to China and invites President Hu Jintao to pay a visit to Portugal. President Hu accepts the invitation.

Annexes: bilateral cooperation agreements signed following the talks between the two heads of state

Cooperation Agreement between the Supreme Court of the People's Republic of China and the Supreme Administrative Court of the Republic of Portugal

Agreement between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Portugal on Economic Cooperation

Agreement between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Portugal on Mutual Acknowledgement of Higher Educational Level and Degree Certificates

Implementation Plan for Cultural Exchanges from 2005 to 2007 between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Portugal

Cooperation Agreement between China Central Television (CCTV) and Portuguese Television

The Memorandum of Understanding on Code-Sharing Arrangement between the Aviation Authority of the People's Republic of China and the Aviation Authority of the Republic of Portugal

Exchanges and Cooperation Agreement from 2005 to 2007 between China International Culture Association (CICA) and the Fundacao Oriente of Portugal

Original source: http://www.fmprc.gov.cn/eng/wjdt/2649/t180139.htm

Other Joint Communiqués:

China-Japan | China-Russian | China-Sri Lanka | China-India-Russia | China-Mozambique | China-South Africa | China-Zambia | China-Japan-Korea | China-Benin | China-Montenegro | China-Uganda | China-Republic of Congo | China-Ghana | China-Georgia | China-Greece | China-Pakistan | China-Malaysia | China-Kazakhstan | China-Samoa | China-Portugal | China-E.U. | China-Vietnam | China-Armenia | China-Brunei Darussalam | China-Albania | China-Arab States of the Gulf (GCC) | China-Fiji Islands | China-Papua New Guinea | China-Moldova | China-Iran | China-Oman | China-United Kingdom |