Portugal's Minister for Foreign Affairs Paulo Portas (r) with Macau's Secretary of State for Social and Cultural Affairs Cheong U (l) (Photograph: Carmo Correia/LUSA)

In addition to comfortably complying with its objectives, Portugal confirmed its strategic relationship with China, Minister of State and Foreign Affairs Paulo Portas said at the end of his eight-day visit to the Asian country.

Portugal is one of the few countries in Europe that has this partnership and given the huge power of the Chinese economy and its enormous potential, it is clear that Portugal has every advantage in leveraging this partnership,” said Portas as his visit ended in Macau.

In practical terms, Portas said that the hitherto success of Chinese investments in Portuguese corporations could now have a multiplier effect.

Portas said his visit now “opened the way and that many other companies that were traditionally suppliers to the energy company Energias de Portugal, the electric grid REN or the oil company Galp may now become suppliers with a greater scope and scale to the Chinese partners of these Portuguese firms.”

While there were “still some hurdles to clear,” Portas also expressed hope that Portugal’s image in the country would benefit exports, in particular the “especially important” ago-industrial sector.

Portas added that “the authorities in Macau perceived positively (…) the fact that Macau has a strong Portuguese tradition and heritage,” before promising further developments would be announced “shortly” by AICEP, the Portuguese investment agency.