Porto-China: Bilateral cultural and trade relations blossom

CGTN National Television Channel in China, in collaboration with Portuguese News Channel Porto Canal, hosted a special edition on Economic, Trade Relations and Cultural Exchanges between Portugal, namely Porto and China, which included the Mayor of Porto, Rui Moreira (on official tour to China), Victor Gao, Vice-President of the Centre for China and Globalization and Wu Jun, Kushun talk Show Host who lives in Porto. 

"Although China and Portugal are located at opposite ends of the Eurasian continent, instead of being alienated by the distance, the two countries relations have been flourishing for almost four decades, as we see a leap forward in Chinese investments in Portugal, we have also seen plenty of tangible benefits for the people in both countries", stated the CGTN Host in the beginning of the interview.

After 39 years of Portugal -China Bilateral Relationship and Investment, namely trade volume, strategic partnership enhanced by the Belt and Road Initiative and the 21st century Silk Roads, by land and by sea being established, Portugal is becoming an even more important partner for China.

When asked how the two nations can tap into the potential of their relationship, Mayor of Porto, Rui Moreira stated that the city is growing 10 to 12% every year tourism related.

"We don't have many tourists, 3 to 4 million of tourists coming to the city, and for the size of the city this is already something huge. Four years ago we were known as the best kept secret in Europe, and now lots of people are coming not only to know the city but also to visit the Douro Valley, they are coming for the gastronomy, for the Port Wine, for the experience and for the Heritage. We also have many people who visit us in Porto to know the University, to study at the University, which is something we applaud and the business going on between Chinese entrepreneurs and northern companies is growing".

Addressing the Mayor, the host spotlighted Porto as "a city on the rise, Porto is second largest city of Portugal, also known for his river, Douro sided by UNESCO world heritage historic centre".

Rui Moreira further stressed that Portugal is coming out of a crisis, and that tourism increase has helped the country to overcome the crisis, enabling the creation of jobs and full employment.

The Mayor also spotlighted that "Chinese tourists are very special, they want a real experience, they want to listen the way we talk, how we live, how we enjoy life, and that means a lot. And we are very pleased to welcome Chinese tourists as China has decided to invest in the country at a very difficult time for us".

Bilateral cultural ties blossom

Victor Gao, Vice-President of the Centre for China and Globalization mentioned the role of the Jesuits and the knowledge they brought to China.

"These missionaries did contribute to our knowledge of the west and helped us enrich Chinese culture in the process", he added.

The Vice President of the Centre for China and Globalization also stated that Portugal has good port potentials, facing the Atlantic ocean, by saying that "now there is a great push to import more natural gas, a great potential for building or receiving these LNG terminals, not only serving Portugal's interest but also many countries interest in Europe. There is a potential of Portugal in terms of energy and trade between china and the rest of the world".

Invited to comment on this statement, the Mayor of Porto declared that "coming from the shipping industry, which has been all my life before being a Mayor, I recognise that we are in a very strategic position, especially with the LNG. Also, we have the deep water ports in the Atlantic, and we are at a crossroads, as we are at the entrance of the Mediterranean, to Africa and to the new Panama Canal, so, strategically we are placed in a fantastic position".

Rui Moreira also highlighted that "the other advantage is that if you look at our coastline, it is possible to expand our ports, which are already deep water ports, and this would help correct some congestion difficulties (regarding Rotterdam and other ports) so, strategically we have a long asset in the long term".

Wu Jun, Kushun talk Show Host, who lives in Porto, shares her personal story on living in this Portuguese city by stating that "people keep asking me If I have chosen Portugal, more specifically Porto because of Cristiano Ronaldo, but I would say it was because of its diversified culture and glorified history. I was lucky to have gone to Macau, and Portuguese is everywhere, on the road signs, on billboards, newspapers, everywhere. But, the majority of the people doesn't speak Portuguese, and then I realised that there are 9 countries in the world whose official language is Portuguese and it made me wonder how can a small country like Portugal have had the power and the ambition to conquer the whole world?"

"I think Chinese people don't know enough about Portugal, maybe about football but not about the culture or the gastronomy. I think there is a gap in terms of culture and we need to do something to fill that gap", Wu Jun urged.

When asked what could be done about it, Rui Moreira stated that "we are already working on it as Portugal is a country of memories as China is, and for us culture and economic development go together, which is another thing that Chinese understand very well. When we look at this cooperation, the investment of china in Portugal, for us it a strategic development issue, not merely technique, we really think we are at the brink of a new era of cooperation with China.

Victor Gao concluded by saying that "China should work closer with Portugal to enhance Tourism in China. I have been to Portugal and I love it. I think there will be a chemistry for Chinese tourists to go to Portugal and spend time there and spend money there and eventually decide to send their kids to be educated in Portugal".

See here the full interview.