On July 4, 2012, Vice Premier Li Keqiang met with Portuguese Minister of State and Foreign Minister Paulo Portas in Ziguangge, Zhongnanhai.

Li applauded the robust growth of bilateral relations, highlighting the two nations' efforts to forge solid political mutual trust and expand two-way trade and mutual investment. "China will work closely with the Portuguese side to strengthen bilateral cooperation in trade, new energy, infrastructure and telecommunications and promote the combination of advanced technology, scale production and broad market to better serve our economic and social development," Li said. He vowed to boost China's comprehensive strategic partnership with Portugal to a new level.

While discussing China-EU relations, Li said the two sides have many shared interests. "The Chinese side has noted the important consensus reached among EU members to address the debt crisis during the EU summer summit," Li said, noting that the agreement has displayed the EU's confidence to the world and will be conducive to the recovery and growth of the European economy. China will continue to support the efforts of some European countries in a constructive and cooperative manner to resolve the debt problems. "China will continue to expand pragmatic cooperation with the EU in multiple fields to achieve mutual benefits," Li said. He also voiced his hope that Portugal will continue to play an active role in the EU and work to promote the development of China-EU relations.

Portas said Portugal highly values its ties with China and will make joint efforts with China to boost friendly exchanges and pragmatic cooperation between the two nations to achieve common development.