- Chinese President Hu Jintao (L) waves as he stands with his wife Liu Yongqing upon their arrival at Orly airport, south of Paris on November 4, 2010. Hu is on a three-day state visit during which France hopes to clinch billions of dollars in deals for nuclear, aviation and energy technology. (Photo by CHARLES PLATIAU/AFP/Getty Images)
November 06, 2010 (KATAKAMI / VOA) --- Chinese President Hu Jintao arrived in Portugal Saturday for an official visit aimed at boosting bilateral trade, investment and energy and cultural exchanges.
During his visit, President Hu is scheduled to hold talks with Portuguese President Anibal Cavaco Silva, Prime Minister Jose Socrates and other top officials. The two sides are expected to sign several cooperation agreements.
China’s official news agency, Xinhua, says the smooth handover of Macao from Portugal to China in 1999 opened a new page in the history of bilateral relations. It says the relationship further improved with the 2005 inauguration of the strategic partnership between the two nations.
President Hu, accompanied by his wife Liu Yongqing, members of the Chinese government and around 50 business leaders, arrived in the Portuguese capital, Lisbon, from Nice, where he wrapped up his visit to France.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy took Mr. Hu to Nice for private talks that were expected to revolve around global issues.
During the visit to France, the Chinese delegation secured more than $20 billion in contracts for French firms, boosting France’s airline, telecom and nuclear industries. (*)
