On April 8, 2026, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC) Zhao Leji held talks with Portuguese Parliament Speaker José Pedro Aguiar-Branco at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

Zhao Leji stated that China and Portugal are traditional friendly countries and comprehensive strategic partners characterized by mutual respect, mutual trust, and win-win cooperation. President Xi Jinping has maintained close interactions with President Antonio Jose Seguro and Prime Minister Luís Montenegro, providing strategic guidance for the development of China-Portugal relations. China is willing to work with Portugal to follow the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, carry forward traditional friendship, enhance strategic mutual trust, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, and promote the steady and sustained development of the China-Portugal comprehensive strategic partnership. 

‌Zhao Leji pointed out that since the establishment of diplomatic relations, Portugal has consistently adhered to the one-China principle. The two countries have properly resolved the question of Macao through friendly consultations, fully demonstrating their political wisdom and high degree of mutual trust. China is willing to work with Portugal to uphold respect for each other’s core interests and major concerns, continuously build and expand consensus on the basis of equality and sincere dialogue. The two countries should strengthen the alignment of development strategies, expand two-way investment, and explore cooperation in areas such as new energy, digital economy and artificial intelligence. The two countries should deepen cooperation in culture, science and technology, education, tourism and other fields to solidify the popular foundation of bilateral relations. The two countries should make good use of mechanisms such as the Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries to expand trilateral cooperation with regions such as Africa and Latin America. The two countries should strengthen communication and collaboration to jointly practice true multilateralism. China hopes that Portugal will continue to play a constructive role in promoting the healthy and stable development of China-Europe relations.

Zhao Leji emphasized that the NPC of China is willing to work with the Portuguese Parliament based on the functional characteristics of legislative bodies, so as to strengthen friendly exchanges at multiple levels and in various fields, expand exchanges of experience in legislation and oversight work, provide legal guarantees for bilateral practical cooperation, and better facilitate the development of relations between the two countries. Zhao Leji introduced the situation regarding the ecological environment code, and stated that both sides could engage in experience exchanges on the legal system construction for ecological environment protection and strengthen cooperation in advancing relevant domestic legislation and formulating international rules.

Aguiar-Branco stated that both Portugal and China are countries with a long history, and Portugal-China relations are characterized by mutual respect, mutual trust and mutually beneficial cooperation. Portugal firmly adheres to the one-China policy and appreciates the successful implementation of the “One Country, Two Systems” policy in Macao. Deepening the Portugal-China comprehensive strategic partnership is an important consensus among all political parties in Portugal. Facing the uncertainties of the international situation, Portugal hopes to enhance the strategic nature of Portugal-China relations, jointly uphold multilateralism, strengthen cooperation in various fields such as economy, trade and people-to-people exchanges, promote the healthy development of Europe-China relations, and enhance global stability and certainty. The Portuguese Parliament is willing to strengthen friendly exchanges with the NPC of China, actively leverage the role of friendship groups, and contribute to promoting practical cooperation and enhancing friendship between the two peoples.

He Wei attended the talks.