China considers Portugal a friend and strategic partner, Lusa reports.

The Portuguese news agency quotes a release it received from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs as saying so.

The message says China attaches great importance to the development of ties with Portugal.

The Chinese authorities are willing to work with their Portuguese counterparts to act on agreements signed when Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Portugal last December, with a view to increasing Sino-Portuguese exchanges at a high level, Lusa quotes the release as saying.

This year is the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Portugal and the People’s Republic of China.