Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and Xi Jinping exchanged congratulatory messages on February 8 on the occasion of the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, which were published on the Portuguese Presidency's website.

"Portugal and China have maintained, uninterruptedly, for five centuries, a relationship of cultural, economic, social and political coexistence, despite their geographical distance," he stressed.

Xi Jinping assured in his letter addressed to the Portuguese head of state that he attaches great importance to the development of Sino-Portuguese relations and that he is willing to work together with Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa to lead the China-Portugal Global Strategic Partnership to deepen constantly to better benefit the people, foster the healthy and stable development of China-European Union relations and contribute to peace, stability and prosperity in the world.

(Source: RTP, February 8)