On the afternoon of July 22, the China-Portugal Economic and Trade Seminar and the Promotion Event of the Second China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE) was held in Lisbon, capital of Portugal. Zhang Shaogang, Vice Chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), Zhao Bentang, Chinese Ambassador to Portugal, Fernanda Ferreira Dias, Director-General for Economic Activities at the Ministry of Economy and Maritime Affairs of Portugal, and António Noronha, President of the Portugal-China Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCILC), attended and addressed the event.

Zhang Shaogang said that China is comprehensively advancing high-quality development and Chinese modernization, bringing unprecedented opportunities for cooperation between the Chinese and Portuguese business communities. He expressed the hope that taking the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries as a new starting point, Chinese and Portuguese companies would jointly open up new areas for trade growth, lend fresh impetus to cooperation in green and digital fields, and usher in a new era of cooperation in industrial and supply chains. He welcomed the active participation of Portuguese companies and organizations in the 2nd CISCE.

Zhao Bentang stressed that China and Portugal have continuously expanded the mutually beneficial cooperation among companies and promoted the Belt and Road cooperation in the spirit of mutual respect, openness and inclusiveness, setting an example of win-win cooperation between China and Europe. He expected that both sides continue to boost pragmatic cooperation, identify new bright spots and converging interests in cooperation through the CISCE and other important platforms, further unleash the potential of economic and trade cooperation between the two countries, and give our two peoples a greater sense of fulfillment.

Fernanda Ferreira Dias said that the CISCE has provided a crucial platform for enhancing cooperation among all parties amid mounting global challenges. She added that Portugal stands ready to strengthen policy coordination with China, enhance the level of trade facilitation, and promote the diversified development of balanced trade.. In the meantime, it will bolster investment cooperation between enterprises from the two countries in the fields of industry, banking and insurance, healthcare, infrastructure and third-party markets to deliver mutual benefits.

António Noronha stated that over the years, the CCILC has maintained close cooperative ties with the CCPIT and jointly moved forward Portugal-China friendly cooperation. The business communities from both countries should work together to respond to challenges posed by protectionism, seize opportunities for cooperation in trade, investment, technology and other fields, and make positive contributions to Portugal-China friendly exchanges in a pragmatic and constructive spirit.

The China International Exhibition Center Group Limited promoted the 2nd CISCE at the meeting. More than 60 business representatives from China and Portugal attended the event.