Mainland China and Portugal may enjoy “a particularly significant year for the deepening of relations”, according to Portuguese President, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.

The Portuguese newspaper Observador reported Mr Rebelo de Sousa’s comments at the end of a conference held in Lisbon on Tuesday called “Macau – A bridge in the economic relations between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries”.

“The European Union understands that, beyond the friendship ties, the partnerships, the historical alliances that it keeps, namely transatlantic, it can win by getting close to China. This is true with the European Union and in particular with Portugal,” Mr Rebelo de Sousa told the conference.

He said Portugal could play an important role in relations with the Mainland because it was “present in three communities”, namely the European Union, the Community of Portuguese Language Speaking Countries and the Organization of Ibero-American States.

The conference was organised by the Universidade de Lisboa Institute of Social and Political Sciences and the Jorge Álvares Foundation.