Chinese President Jiang Zemin said Tuesday that the fact that he has visited Portugal twice in six years proves that China attaches importance to developing long-term and stable friendly relations with the country.

Speaking at a state banquet given in his honor by his Portuguese counterpart Jorge Sampaio, Jiang said that recent years have witnessed continued expansion of Sino-Portuguese friendly cooperation in the political, economic, cultural and scientific- technological fields and deepening of mutual understanding between the two peoples.

Sharing broad consensus and common interests in handling major international issues, both countries care for world peace and development and hope to step up friendship and cooperation based on equality and mutual benefit. China is ready to make joint efforts with Portugal to actively explore new ways and fields to expand bilateral cooperation, he said.

When the Chinese government resumes the exercise of sovereignty over Macao in less than two months, it will mark another important step forward in the Chinese people's cause of achieving complete national reunification, he said.

The smooth settlement of the Macao issue, which results from cooperation between the two countries, offers the world a good example of solving problems left over by history through peaceful negotiation, Jiang said.

After the return of Macao to China, the Chinese government will unswervingly carry out the principles of "one country, two systems," "Macao people governing Macao" and "high level of autonomy" in the region, he said, adding that Macao will certainly have a brighter future.

The successful settlement of the Macao issue will provide a new starting point to better advance the Sino-Portuguese friendly cooperation, he concluded.