China, Portugal Agree To Increase Economic Cooperation 　　Shi Guangsheng, China's minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation (MOFTEC), and his Portuguese counterpart Joaquim Pina Moura agreed in Beijing January 13 that there will be concrete measures to increase trade relations and economic cooperation between their two countries. 　　The agreement was reached during the 4th meeting of the Sino-Portuguese Mixed Committee on Commerce and Trade, where Shi said that a group of Chinese business people will visit Portugal this year to learn more about the country and seek opportunities for cooperation, in a trip organized by MOFTEC. 　　Portuguese enterprises are welcome to trade fairs and to exhibit goods and technology in China, and to invest in China, he said, pointing out that trade between the two countries only accounts for a tiny proportion of their overall foreign trade. Investment has just started, he said, and there is potential in bilateral trade and economic cooperation. Annual trade between China and Portugal is worth about US$200 million 　　Moura said that the Portuguese Government is not satisfied with the current trade and economic cooperation with China, and is determined to increase relations. 　　Shi said that China will handle trade and economic cooperation with Macao in accordance with the principle of "one country, two systems" after China resumes the exercise of sovereignty over Macao on December 20 this year. 　　He said that the mainland and Macao are two different tariff zones, so business will be done in accordance with international norms. He said he hopes that China and Portugal will contribute to the prosperity and stability of Macao and make it a bridge linking China and Portugal. 　　After the meeting, the two ministers signed an agreement on the talks, and representatives of the Northern China Electric Group and the Welding and Quality Research Institute of Portugal signed a letter of intent on cooperation. 　　 HomeNews 1999-01-14 Page4 Full Story in Chinese