BEIJING — Premier Li Keqiang met with Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa in Beijing on April 29.

Premier Li said China is willing to strengthen aligning the Belt and Road Initiative with Portugal’s development strategies, expand all-around cooperation, increase personnel exchanges, and continue to consolidate the positive momentum of the bilateral relations.

China and Portugal are both supporters and beneficiaries of open and free trade, Premier Li said, noting that China is willing to work with European Union countries including Portugal to safeguard multilateralism and free trade.

Portugal supports and actively participates in jointly building the Belt and Road, and is willing to deepen communication and cooperation with China in areas including economy, trade, and people-to-people and cultural exchanges, Rebelo de Sousa said, adding that Portugal will work with China to safeguard free trade and push the bilateral relations to a new height.