Brussels, Jan. 30, 2021 (Lusa) - The Chinese Ambassador to the European Union (EU) praised the relationship between China and Portugal, at a time when Lisboa is chairing the rotating presidency of the EU bloc, speaking of an "exemplary" and "mutual respect" connection.

"I think that we can consider the relationship between Portugal and China as exemplary and I think the secret is mutual respect," said Ambassador Zhang Ming, head of China's EU mission, in an interview with Lusa and other Portuguese media in Brussels.

In this interview on the Portuguese presidency of the Council of the EU, he insisted that "Portugal has shown great respect for China and China even more respect for Portugal".

He stressed that "we have never intervened in each other's internal affairs, which is important, and I hope that we will continue to promote our cooperation in the interests of both countries and their citizens".

Noting that "Portugal was not among the first countries to establish diplomatic links with China [and] perhaps even among the last", the Ambassador notes that "since the late 1970s, when these links were established, the bilateral relationship between the two countries has developed in a smooth, rapid and friendly manner".

"Now we can see a very close cooperation between the two countries", he added.

In recent years, after the previous financial crisis, Chinese investment has been strong in Portugal, either through new companies or through capital inflows into national companies, with Beijing hoping to see even more investment in the country due to the new EU-China investment agreement which will be ratified by the end of the year.

Asked by Lusa about the European Commission's and the European Parliament's constant warnings to Member States to put an end to residence permit or nationality programmes for investment, such as the Portuguese 'golden visas', Zhang Ming refused to comment, saying that this is "an internal EU matter".

Still, he said: "Some third-country investors are trying to get permits or residence permits or visas [in some EU countries] through investment, and this is not something encouraged by the Chinese government".

Last October, the European Parliament said that EU countries should "end immediately" the 'golden' visa programmes that give residence or citizenship to foreign investors, criticising that this is a "quick entry for criminals".

After severe warnings from the EU executive, MEPs took a stand at the time to demand an end to the so-called 'golden passport' programmes, which exist in 19 member states, stressing that "EU citizenship cannot be traded as a commodity", the institution said in a press release.

There has been a 'golded' visa programme for over eight years in Portugal, which provides residence permits to foreign investors but does not guarantee them citizenship.

Among the largest beneficiaries are usually investors from China, Brazil and the United States.

In 2020, investment in Portugal through 'golden' visas fell by 13% compared to the previous year, to €646.7 million according to accounts made by Lusa based on statistics from the Foreigners and Borders Service.

The government is expected to phase out this instrument in Lisbon and Porto to ease market pressure in both cities.

ANE/ADB // ADB.

Lusa