TNAG-1870-FCO40-2658-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-Macau.-With-map-1989 — Page 171

GAZETA MACAENSE dd 18 August 1989

Translation

Sino-Portuguese Relations have not been affected, says

Li Peng

Beijing

The Prime Minister Li Peng said yesterday that "the friendly relations existing between Portugal and China and the work in the implementation of the Luso-Chinese Joint Declaration on the future of Macau were not affected by the recent counter-revolutionary rebellion in Beijing thanks to the joint effort of

both sides".

Speaking in Beijing on the occasion of receiving farewell wishes from the departing Portuguese ambassador to China, Neto Valerio, the head of the Chinese government stressed according to the official news agency "NCNA" the normality which characterized the meeting in Lisbon of the Sino-Portuguese Joint Liaison Group at the end of last month and early this month.

"China wishes to expand the friendly Luso-Chinese relations and to continue to co-operate strictly with Portugal in order to implement the Joint Declaration on Macau and to maintain the prosperity of Macau" declared Li Peng to the Portuguese ambassador in Beijing.

Li Peng also said according to "NCNA" that "the bilateral relations of friendship and co-operation have been expanding constantly since the establishment of diplomatic link between the two countries", in 1979.

Neto Valerio declared in his turn that "during

the negotiations on the Joint Declaration about the future of Macau and during the process of its implementation Portugal always felt sincerity on the part of the Chinese".