An official of the Communist Party of China has called for strengthened co-operation and mutual political trust with Portugal, Chinese official news agency Xinhua reported.

The remarks by Liu Qibao, member of the Political Bureau of the Chinese Communist Party’s Central Committee, came during his three-day visit to Portugal, which ended on Thursday. He met with Pedro Passos Coelho, Portugual’s Prime Minister and president of the ruling Social Democratic Party; and Antonio Costa, secretary of the Socialist Party, the main opposition party in Portugal.

“China-Portugal ties are at their best in history,” Mr Liu was quoted saying. “China is keen to further strengthen political mutual trust, deepen pragmatic co-operation, and promote exchanges in personnel, culture and media outlets between both countries in a bid to boost the development of China’s ties with Portugal and with Europe in an all-around manner,” he added.

Both nations should also take advantages of the “One Belt, One Road” initiative to advance “mutually beneficial co-operation”, he stated. Chinese President Xi Jinping first proposed that initiative in hopes of connecting, via infrastructure projects, the economies of Asia, the Middle East, Europe and Africa.

Mr Coelho was quoted as saying Portugal “is willing to catch every opportunity to deepen and expand the co-operation” with China.

Meanwhile, China has launched a new multimedia online portal – china.com – in Portuguese, with information on the country’s “politics, economy, culture and social development”, Portuguese news agency Lusa reported.

The portal will be run by China Radio International (CRI), which also introduced in Portugal its Fanzine magazine, published in Portuguese.

CRI, which already broadcasts for six hours a day on a local radio station near Lisbon, called the move “a significant step” in the China Radio’s development strategy.