Conference debates Portugal-China economic and educational relations

The Portugal-China Conference: Economy, Education and Higher Education took place on 9 October at the Grand Hall of Lusófona University - Porto University Centre. The hybrid-format event brought together diplomatic representatives, academics, and experts on Portugal-China relations. Among those present were Professor José de Faria Costa, Director of the Faculty of Law and Political Science (FDCP), and Professor António Tavares, Director of the Master’s Degree in International Relations at Lusófona University.

The opening session was conducted by Professor Paulo Duarte, Deputy Director of the Master’s in International Relations, who initiated the discussion with a question about the tourism sector: “Will it be possible to return to the pre-pandemic period, when Chinese tourists spent an average of 700 euros per day in Portugal?”. His remarks set the tone for a reflection on the economic and social impact of Portugal-China relations.

The first panel, dedicated to economic relations, featured Ambassador António Martins da Cruz, Professor Fernanda Ilhéu, President of the Friends of the New Silk Road Association, and Dr. Y Ping Chow, President of the Portugal-China SMEs Chamber of Commerce. During his presentation, António Martins da Cruz noted that “economic relations between the two countries can be analysed from several angles, including political and geopolitical frameworks”. He also highlighted the growth of bilateral trade — representing over 1.5 million euros per minute between Europe and China — and the role of Macau as an economic and cultural bridge. The Ambassador also addressed the challenges and opportunities of Chinese investment in Portugal, with an emphasis on the technological, industrial, and tourism sectors.

Professor Fernanda Ilhéu provided a detailed analysis of trade exchanges between the two nations, emphasising that in 2024 China ranked as the 17th market for Portuguese exports (0.8%) and the 6th largest supplier of goods to Portugal (4.8%), totalling approximately 3.959 billion euros. She noted that 24 Portuguese companies currently operate in China in sectors such as textiles, wine, and cork. In Macau, there are 14 Portuguese companies — including Super Bock — and in Hong Kong, four companies linked to new technologies.

The second panel, focused on education and higher education, included Professor Isabel Babo, Vice-Rector for Internationalisation and Cooperation at Lusófona University, Professor António Queirós, President of the Portugal-China Chamber for Cooperation and Development, Dr. Bruno Nunes, Lawyer and Board Member of Santa Casa da Misericórdia, and Professor Jorge Rangel, President of the International Institute of Macau. The latter speakers participated remotely. During the discussion, Professor Isabel Babo emphasised the importance of attentive and supportive engagement with Chinese students, drawing from practices observed in UK universities. According to the Vice-Rector, the internationalisation of education can be understood as an intentional process of integrating international, intercultural, and global dimensions into higher education, with the goal of improving the quality of teaching and research, benefiting all students and staff, and generating meaningful social impact.

The panel discussions also highlighted the relevance of academic mobility programmes, such as Erasmus Mundus, and joint research projects, which currently include 29 bilateral initiatives in the fields of digitalisation, science, and innovation. The conference reaffirmed Lusófona University’s commitment to international cooperation and to strengthening relations between Portugal and China, consolidating its role as a leading institution in private higher education in Portugal.

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Lara Sousa

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Gabriel Motta

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Gabriel Motta Lara Sousa