Lisbon Stresses Dialogue and Understanding
Yang Rui interviewed Portuguese president Jorge Sampaio 
cctv.com 01-07-2005 18:08
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Photos of Dialogue's tour to Portugal
Host:
Yang Rui
Guest:
Jorge Sampaio: Portuguese president
Beijing Time:
Jan. 13: 07:30,13:30 19:30
Jan. 14: 01:30
Yang Rui and two of his colleagues were invited to conduct an exclusive interview with Portuguese President Jorge Sampaio in Lisbon six days before he pays an official visit to China.
The interview is a big success due to careful arrangements. Yang Rui asked questions about the European response towards Tsunami, bilateral economic ties and mutual trust in engineering the smooth return of Macao, and its stability over the past five years. Yang Rui also asked the President sensitive questions concerning the rifts between America and its European allies and about multilateralism versus global hegemony. Mr. Sampaio did not avoid addressing the sensitive parts of the issues and especially elaborated his views on the re-run election in Ukraine and the reform of the United Nations.
The Portuguese President is a very wise man and easy-going. He said he and his countrymen marvel at the remarkable economic achievements in China and his delegation would be composed of one hundred entrepreneurs.
Mr. Sampaio spoke of a devastating Tsunami that swept two-thirds of Lisbon away in the 18th century. He says currently Portugal does not have an early warning system to prevent a similar tragedy from happening.
He invited Yang Rui to talk face to face with him in his office like old friends. This reflects his respect for Yang Ruit and for the Chinese media. He says he has met former Chinese President Jiang Zemin in the same place when the two sides were discussing Macao. He emphasized again that the two governments should express concerns about many other more important issues beyond Macao.
President Sampaio then walked Yang Rui to the balcony overlooking a beautiful view of the Atlantic Ocean in the afterglow of the sunset. These moments of personal affections and ease will be broadcast on Dialogue on Jan.13th, two days after the president arrived in Beijing.
Previously Yang Rui had been invited by Finnish Foreign Ministry and the Thai Foreign Ministry to visit and interview their respective leadership in their capitals. This shows the importance that overseas diplomatic services attach to CCTV-9 and to Dialogue in particular.
In February, Yang Rui will go to Washington and interview Madam Zhao Xiaolan, the sole Chinese-American who works for two terms in President Bush's cabinet. Zhao Xiaolan is currently the minister of labor in the DC.
Dialogue plans to interview a series of European policy-makers and politicians on the eve of the 30th anniversary of Sino-EU diplomatic relations in Belgium in May. In fact, Madam Zhang Qiyue, the newly appointed Chinese ambassador to Belgium, said to Yang Rui at a farewell dinner in honor of her at the Belgium Embassy that she welcomes the visit by CCTV-9 and believes that this is something worth doing. She says she will be waiting for us in Brussels by May.
Related news:
China, Portugal to boost trade ties
President Hu Jintao has welcomed visiting Portuguese President Jorge Sampaio, and the two heads of state have held extensive talks. They have agreed to improve trade ties and to explore new areas of cooperation.
The Portuguese president's state visit to China comes as the two countries celebrate 25 years of full diplomatic ties.
In their talks the two presidents agreed the past quarter century has been one of smooth development of political ties. And they said they expect this to continue.
Jorge Sampaio's visit came five years after former Portuguese colony Macao returned to China.
Sampaio stressed Portugal's commitment to its one-China policy, adding that the "one China, two systems" principle in Macao has protected the region's identity, and facilitated stability and prosperity.
Sampaio's visit is also set to give China-Portugal trade ties a strong boost.
A trade delegation of over 100 businesspeople accompanied the president to the Chinese capital.
In 2004, bilateral trade was valued at some 800 million US dollars, with China posting a surplus of about 200.5 million dollars.
However, on the Portuguese side, currently only 15 firms from that country are active in China. But this is something Sampaio hopes to change.
Portugal has made finding new opportunities outside its traditional focus on European markets a priority, with a six percent rise in exports forecast for this year.
In Beijing, the two sides will sign economic cooperation agreements and discuss future cooperation accords on science and technology, and culture.
Sampaio will also meet with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and other top leaders in addition to attending the opening of a Sino-Portuguese cultural exhibition.
This is Sampaio's second visit to the mainland since 1997 as the Portuguese President. He also attended the 1999 ceremony to mark the return of Macao to China.
The Portuguese President will leave Beijing for Shanghai on Friday, as the second stop of his week-long China visit. Portugal plans to set up a consulate in Shanghai to boost bilateral exchanges in the economy, trade and tourism.
Chinese leaders meet Portuguese president
Premier Wen Jiabao and top legislator Wu Bangguo have met separately with Portuguese President Jorge Sampaio in Beijing. All agreed, that closer relations would have larger benefits for Sino-European ties.
In his meeting with visiting Portuguese President Jorge Samaio, Wu Bangguo conveyed that China's National People's Congress is willing to enhance cooperation and exchanges with the Portuguese parliament, to inject new momentum into the development of bilateral relationship.
In response, Sampaio said his government values the important role China plays in international affairs. He added that Portugal would continue to adhere to its "One China " policy, and push forward legislative cooperation between the two nations.
In his meeting with Jorge Sampaio, Premier Wen Jiabao sang high praise for the Portuguese government's support to China in a host of matters, including the Taiwan question. Wen also expressed wishes for further trade cooperation and more two-way investment in the economic field.
Sampaio agreed on the point and said a cemented bilateral relationship will benefit the development of Sino-EU relations.
Later in the day, the Portuguese President also attended the opening ceremony of an exhibition gracing Sino-Portuguese Cultural Ties.
Photos of Dialogue's tour to Portugal
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Editor:Xiang Source:CCTV.com
