Chinese President Hu Jintao and Portuguese President Jorge Fernando Branco de Sampaio on Sunday sent messages of congratulation to each other, celebrating the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Relations between China and Portugal have been moving steadily forward since the establishment of their diplomatic relations 25 years ago, Hu said in his message.

The two sides have carried out fruitful cooperation in all respects, with friendly exchanges at various levels growing increasingly closer and mutual understanding and trust rapidly deepening.

China and Portugal successfully settled the Macao issue through friendly consultations and explored a broader prospect for the development of bilateral relations, and the settlement set a good example for other countries to solve problems left over by history, Hu said.

The president expressed China's willingness to make joint efforts with Portugal in taping the potentiality of the development of bilateral relations and composing a new chapter for friendly cooperation.

In his congratulatory message, Portuguese President Sampaio praised the friendly China-Portugal relations and the fruitful cooperation between the two countries.

Since the establishment of diplomatic relations, China has made great contribution to the stability of friendly bilateral ties and over the past four years since Macao was successfully handed over, China and Portugal have also cooperated closely and constructively, Sampaio said.

Portugal will maintain and deepen its cooperation with China in all the aspects to bring benefit to the two countries and the two peoples, he said.

Also on Sunday, Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing and his Portuguese counterpart Teresa Patricio Gouveia also sent congratulatory messages to each other on the occasion.

(Xinhua News Agency February 8, 2004)