On September 26, 2016 local time, after successfully concluding his official visit to Cuba, Premier Li Keqiang and his wife Mme. Cheng Hong left Havana for China by special plane and made a technical stopover in Terceira, Portugal on their way home. When leaving Cuba, First Vice-president of the Council of State and Council of Ministers Miguel Diaz-Canel of Cuba and other senior government officials, H.E. Zhang Tuo, Chinese Ambassador to Cuba as well as others saw them off at the airport.

When Li Keqiang and his wife Mme. Cheng Hong arrived at Lajes Air Base in Terceira, Augusto Santos Silva, Special Representative of Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa and Foreign Minister, other senior government officials of Portugal, H.E. Cai Run, Chinese Ambassador to Portugal and others greeted them at the airport. Afterwards, Li Keqiang held a meeting with Augusto Santos Silva.

Li Keqiang said that Portugal is a good friend of China in the EU. With joint efforts of the two countries, China-Portugal relations have made new development in recent years. China is willing to work with Portugal to strengthen high-level exchanges, deepen political mutual trust, enhance mutual understanding, expand practical cooperation, intensify people-to-people and cultural exchanges and constantly enrich the connotation of bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership.

Li Keqiang pointed out that at present, China and Portugal have yielded fruitful outcomes from practical cooperation in various fields. Chinese enterprises have been increasing their investment in Portugal and both sides have obtained sound cooperation achievements in the Latin American market and other third-party markets. It is hoped that the two countries could further explore cooperation potential in energy, finance, maritime sectors and other areas, and give play to complementary advantages, so as to better conduct third-party market cooperation. The Chinese side encourages its enterprises to invest and establish business in Portugal as well as welcomes Portuguese enterprises to expand market in China. We should make joint efforts to provide a fair and convenient business environment for each other's investors.

Augusto Santos Silva first conveyed sincere greetings from Prime Minister António Costa of Portugal to Premier Li Keqiang and Mme. Cheng Hong, and noted that Portugal-China exchanges boast a long history and bilateral relations enjoy a sound development momentum. The Portuguese side hopes to expand the export of advantageous agricultural products, dairy products and others to China. As a major investment destination of China in the EU, Portugal highly values Chinese investment and wishes to continue to reinforce cooperation in energy, transportation infrastructure, logistics and other fields as well as carry out third-party cooperation in Africa and other regions with China.