Portuguese Ambassador to China Paulo Jorge Pereira do Nascimento highlighted the growing trade and investment opportunities between Portugal and China and encouraged Chinese investment in the European country in an interview in Beijing on Wednesday.
Speaking on Portugal's participation in the China International Fair for Trade in Services, or CIFTIS, with a national pavilion for the first time, the ambassador emphasized the country's goal of showcasing the potential of its trade relations with China.
As one of the world's largest and most comprehensive events for the services sector, the five-day CIFTIS opened in Beijing on Thursday. Thirteen countries and international organizations have set up their own exhibitions for the first time at the fair's venue in Shougang Park. Portugal is among them.
"This is the first time we participate in the CIFTIS with a national pavilion. And we intend to show on it, of course, the potential of our trade relations with China, also to show how Portugal is an important and relevant destination for productive investment from China. We do have very positive examples of investment from Chinese companies in Portugal. They have been proved to be useful for not only for Portugal, but also for the Chinese companies that are involved," the ambassador said.
Noting that trade in services between the two countries remains lower than trade in goods, he acknowledged the potential for growth.
"Trade in services, as you said, has been smaller than trade in goods – but this is also a general feature of trade relations in broad terms. Yes, we do have the potential to increase our trade in services. In this respect, I think that, again, the most important thing is probably to make people to know people. I believe that with the increase of people-to-people exchanges, also in cultural domain, in tourism, knowledge, science, technology, this is going to increase necessarily trade in services," the ambassador said.
He stressed the importance of an open economy to foster further investments, which, in turn, would drive innovation and create opportunities for both nations.
"Portugal already has some investments made in China, mostly related to the automotive industry. But we think that any measures that go in favor of opening up of the economy are positive. The economy has to be open to investments. Investment brings innovation. Innovation brings well-being for people, brings jobs, brings knowledge," he said.
Portugal seeks to enhance trade, investment with China: ambassador
