Portuguese President Anibal Cavaco Silva said here Thursday that Friday's summit between the European Union (EU) and Russia in Mafra would facilitate further development of mutually beneficial ties between the two sides.
Speaking at a press conference following a meeting with visiting Russian President Vladimir Putin, Silva also said that during the EU's Portuguese presidency, Portugal was doing its utmost to strengthen EU-Russia dialogue and cooperation in an atmosphere of mutual understanding and respect.
"The Mafra summit will be conducive to such dialogue and cooperation," he added.
He expressed the hope that the summit would narrow the two sides' positions on issues where they differed.
Putin, who arrived in Lisbon Thursday afternoon for a visit to Portugal ahead of the Mafra summit, said he hoped the "friendly atmosphere" would appear in Mafra.
He said he hoped the Mafra summit would be conducive to EU- Russia relations.
The Russian leader also met with Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates Thursday afternoon.
Speaking after their talks, Putin said that Russia is "open- minded" and "sincere" to the Mafra summit, and hopes to get support and help from Portugal in Mafra.
He also said that Russia seeks further development in economic and trade relations with Portugal.
This is the second visit by Putin to Portugal as Russian president following a 2004 trip.
During his stay, Russia and Portugal will sign an agreement on appropriating a loan of 200 million euros (about 284 million U.S. dollars) to Russian and Portuguese businessmen, Portuguese media reported.
Putin will also unveil the unprecedented exhibition "From Peter the Great to Nicholas II: art and culture of Russian Empire in Hermitage collection." It consists of 600 exhibits, including paintings, articles of decorative art, jewelry, clothing and furniture.
Relations between Moscow and Lisbon have been developing smoothly over the past few years, according to Russian and Portuguese media reports.
The two-way trade has significantly increased this year, with the first nine months totaling some 2.5 billion dollars against 1. 29 billion dollars in the same period last year. Russia supplies Portugal with oil and petro-products, metals and aircraft, while Portugal exports to Russia cork, textiles, footwear and hastings.
The two sides signed an intergovernmental agreement in the tourist industry this year, boosting arrivals on both sides. Meanwhile, mutual investment is also reported to be on the rise.
Source: Xinhua
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