OBSERVARE

Universidade Autónoma de Lisboa

e-ISSN: 1647-7251

VOL. 16, Nº. 2, TD2

Thematic Dossier

Portugal and China in International Relations:

Historical Legacies and Contemporary Dynamics

February 2026

EDITORIAL

YICHAO LI

liyichao@zjnu.edu.cn

Institute of African Studies, Zhejiang Normal University (China). She received a Ph.D. from the

Institute for Research on Portuguese-speaking Countries, City University of Macau (China) in

2021. She also received a Master’s degree in comparative civil law (in Chinese) from the

University of Macau (China) in 2018. In 2020, she was awarded the Institute of European Studies

in Macau (IEEM) Academic Research Grant, which is a major component of the Asia-Europe

Comparative Studies Research Project. From 2021 to 2022, she has been a postdoctoral

researcher at the Centre for International Studies, ISCTE-IUL, Lisbon, Portugal. Since 2023, she

has been an assistant research fellow at the Institute of African Studies, Zhejiang Normal

University, China. Her current research interests are the Belt and Road Initiative, Portuguese-

speaking countries, and Sino-African relations. Her latest publication stands as: Li, Y., Leandro,

F., da Silva, J. T., & Rodrigues, C. (eds.). (2025). The Palgrave Handbook on China-Europe-Africa

Relations: Legacies and the New International Order. Palgrave MacMillan. Costa, C. M., & Li, Y.

(2025). Evolving Africa–EU Relations: Changes in Discourse from the Cotonou Agreement to the

Samoa Agreement. Canadian Journal of African Studies / Revue canadienne des études

africaines, DOI:10.1080/00083968.2024.2438370. Yichao Li is a member of OBSERVARE

(Observatory of Foreign Relations), established in 1996 as a center for studies on International

Relations at the Autonomous University of Lisbon, Portugal. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8588-

1043

FRANCISCO JOSÉ B. S. LEANDRO

fleandro@um.edu.mo

University of Macau (China). He received his Ph.D. in Political Science and International Relations

from the Catholic University of Portugal in 2010. From 2014 to 2018, he served as the Program

Coordinator at the Institute of Social and Legal Studies, Faculty of Humanities, University of Saint

Joseph in Macau, China. From 2018 to 2023, he was the Associate Dean of the Institute for

Research on Portuguese-Speaking Countries at the City University of Macau, China. Currently, he

is an Associate Professor with Habilitation in International Relations at the Faculty of Social

Sciences, University of Macau, and Deputy Director of the Institute for Global and Public Affairs.

His recent publications include: Is China a Global Power? (2025), Palgrave Macmillan and The

Palgrave Handbook on Geopolitics of Brazil and South Atlantic (2025), Palgrave Macmillan.

Francisco Leandro is a member of OBSERVARE (Observatory of Foreign Relations), established in

1996 as a centre for studies on International Relations at the Autonomous University of Lisbon,

Portugal. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1443-5828

WANG YINKANGNI

yinkangniwang@gmail.com

University of Macau (China). She is a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Macau. Her academic

trajectory began with an undergraduate exploration of the geopolitical implications of the Russia-

Ukraine war for China, which ignited her interest in global strategic dynamics. During her

Master's studies, she delved into the practical aspects of governance through research on e-

government in Macau. Situated at the intersection of China and the Lusophone world, Macau

served as a bridge, leading her to specialize in Sino-Portuguese relations within the framework of

digital geopolitics. Her current research interests lie at the confluence of e-governance,

geostrategy, and the unique role of functional powers like Portugal in shaping international

cooperation. https://orcid.org/0009-0000-7194-0022

JANUS.NET, e-journal of International Relations

e-ISSN: 1647-7251

VOL. 16, Nº. 2, TD2

Thematic Dossier - Portugal and China in International Relations: Historical Legacies

and Contemporary Dynamics

February 2026, pp. 2-8

Editorial. Portugal and China in International Relations: Historical Legacies

and Contemporary Dynamics

Yichao Li, Francisco José B. S. Leandro, Wang Yinkangni

How to cite this article

Li, Yichao, Leandro, Francisco José B. S. & Yinkangni, Wang (2026). Editorial. Portugal and China

in International Relations: Historical Legacies and Contemporary Dynamics. Janus.net, e-journal

of international relations. Thematic Dossier - Portugal and China in International Relations:

Historical Legacies and Contemporary Dynamics, VOL. 16, Nº. 2, TD2, February 2026, pp. 2-8.

https://doi.org/10.26619/1647-7251.DT0126ED

JANUS.NET, e-journal of International Relations

e-ISSN: 1647-7251

VOL. 16, Nº. 2, TD2

Thematic Dossier - Portugal and China in International Relations: Historical Legacies

and Contemporary Dynamics

February 2026, pp. 2-8

Editorial. Portugal and China in International Relations: Historical Legacies

and Contemporary Dynamics

Yichao Li, Francisco José B. S. Leandro, Wang Yinkangni

PORTUGAL AND CHINA IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS:

HISTORICAL LEGACIES AND CONTEMPORARY DYNAMICS

YICHAO LI

FRANCISCO JOSÉ B. S. LEANDRO

WANG YINKANGNI

This special issue of JANUS.NET, e‑journal of International Relations, comes to light at a

moment of profound disruption in the international rules‑based order, marked by

heightened geopolitical fragmentation, strategic rivalry, and the reconfiguration of global

power structures. Against this setting, the study of Sino‑Portuguese relations constitutes

not only a timely empirical focus but also a valuable academic opportunity to reassess

how medium and small states navigate uncertainty, complexity, and systemic

transformation within the international system.

In the context of the national interest of the Portuguese Republic, relations with China

acquire particular strategic relevance. Portugal has frequently been characterized as a

“special friend” of the People’s Republic of China in Europe (Wise, 2020) and, at times,

even described as “China’s best friend in the European Union” (Wejchert, 2021, p. 3).

Such labels invite critical scholarly reflection, moving beyond diplomatic rhetoric to

interrogate the structural, strategic, and normative dimensions that underpin this

relationship. They also open analytical space to assess how Portugal’s historical legacies

with Portuguese‑speaking countries across Africa, Latin America, and Asia, its Atlantic

and maritime orientation, and its membership in the European Union interact with and

shape China’s evolving global strategy. Examining these intersecting factors allows for a

more nuanced understanding of Portugal’s agency within asymmetrical partnerships and

highlights how bilateral relations are embedded within broader regional, multilateral, and

geoeconomic frameworks.

The evolving dynamics of international relations between Portugal and China constitute

a compelling field of scholarly inquiry, shaped by deep historical legacies, growing

economic interdependence, and sustained strategic diplomatic engagement. The

Sino‑Portuguese relationship is distinctive in comparative perspective, as it is rooted in

several centuries of exchange and interaction, most notably embodied in Macao - a

former territory under Portuguese administration and now a Special Administrative

Region of the People’s Republic of China. Macao continues to function as both a symbolic

JANUS.NET, e-journal of International Relations

e-ISSN: 1647-7251

VOL. 16, Nº. 2, TD2

Thematic Dossier - Portugal and China in International Relations: Historical Legacies

and Contemporary Dynamics

February 2026, pp. 2-8

Editorial. Portugal and China in International Relations: Historical Legacies

and Contemporary Dynamics

Yichao Li, Francisco José B. S. Leandro, Wang Yinkangni

and practical bridge between the two countries, reinforcing cultural affinity, institutional

familiarity, and economic connectivity.

The formal establishment of diplomatic relations in 1979, followed by Portugal’s accession

to the European Union, further consolidated Portugal’s position as a reliable regional and

international partner. These developments enhanced its attractiveness as a destination

for foreign investment and cooperation, particularly for non‑European actors seeking

stable access points to the EU market. In recent decades, Chinese investment in Portugal

has expanded significantly, encompassing strategic sectors such as energy, healthcare,

real estate, insurance, infrastructure, and finance (Leandro and Li, 2025, p. 108).

Portugal occupies a distinctive position within the European Union, not only due to its

extensive maritime heritage but also because it administers one of the largest Exclusive

Economic Zones in Europe. This maritime dimension underscores Portugal’s

long‑standing orientation toward global connectivity and outward engagement, which has

historically facilitated its interaction with Asia. Within this context, the establishment of

the first Sino‑Portuguese “blue partnership” in 2017 represents a notable innovation in

bilateral cooperation, one that China has since replicated with other partners, reinforcing

Portugal’s role as a policy laboratory and strategic intermediary.

In 2005, Portugal and China formally established a comprehensive strategic partnership,

marking a significant deepening of bilateral relations. This partnership was further

consolidated in 2018 through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on the Belt

and Road Initiative, under which Portugal became the sole Western European participant.

These institutional milestones have provided a stable framework for the sustained growth

of bilateral trade, increased Chinese investment in Portugal, and the intensification of

diplomatic engagement. Political alignment has also been evident in multilateral contexts,

most notably through China’s support for António Guterres’ candidacies for United

Nations Secretary‑General in 2016 and his re‑election in 2021. Collectively, these

developments reflect Beijing’s perception of Portugal as a strategically positioned

gateway for engaging with the European Union, leveraging Portugal’s political credibility

within EU institutions, its open investment posture, and its historical and linguistic ties

with Lusophone countries. As such, Sino‑Portuguese relations extend beyond narrow

bilateralism and are increasingly embedded within broader geopolitical and geoeconomic

frameworks. 2025 marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the comprehensive

strategic partnership between China and Portugal. Diplomatic exchanges between Lisbon

and Beijing have remained stable and constructive, characterized by regular high‑level

visits and a shared commitment to expanding cooperation across economic, political,

cultural, and multilateral domains.

Portugal continues to maintain strong diplomatic relations with all Portuguese‑speaking

countries at both bilateral and multilateral levels, most notably within the framework of

the Community of Portuguese‑Speaking Countries. This dense network of historical,

linguistic, and institutional ties constitutes a central asset in the context of

Sino‑Portuguese relations, as it positions Portugal as a privileged interlocutor between

China and Lusophone spaces across Africa, Latin America, and Asia. From Beijing’s

JANUS.NET, e-journal of International Relations

e-ISSN: 1647-7251

VOL. 16, Nº. 2, TD2

Thematic Dossier - Portugal and China in International Relations: Historical Legacies

and Contemporary Dynamics

February 2026, pp. 2-8

Editorial. Portugal and China in International Relations: Historical Legacies

and Contemporary Dynamics

Yichao Li, Francisco José B. S. Leandro, Wang Yinkangni

perspective, these connections enhance Portugal’s value as a facilitator of engagement

with regions of strategic importance within the Global South.

Recent geopolitical and economic developments - such as Timor-Leste’s accession as the

11th Member State of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on 26 October

2025 (ASEAN, 2025) and the deepening of EU–Mercosur relations, culminating in the

signing of the Partnership Agreement (EMPA) and the Interim Trade Agreement (iTA) on

17 January 2026 (European Commission, 2026) - have further strengthened the

integration of Portuguese-speaking countries into key regional economic communities.

These dynamics have significantly expanded the global projection of the Portuguese

language, facilitating access to a vast market of nearly three billion consumers across

Europe, South America, Africa, and Asia. In this context, language functions not merely

as a cultural or historical bond but as a strategic resource underpinning economic

diplomacy, regulatory mediation, and transregional cooperation.

Within Sino‑Portuguese relations, this linguistic and institutional architecture has

particular relevance, as China has increasingly leveraged Macao and Lusophone platforms

to advance commercial, financial, and diplomatic initiatives. By anchoring its engagement

with Lusophone countries through Portugal and Macao, China benefits from established

trust networks and institutional familiarity, while Portugal reinforces its intermediary role

between Europe and the Global South. This configuration enhances the geopolitical and

geoeconomic relevance of Lusophone spaces within an increasingly multipolar and

interconnected international order, while also illustrating how small and medium‑sized

states can exercise agency through networked diplomacy.

In addition, the prospects for trilateral Sino–Portuguese cooperation merit closer

analytical attention, particularly in the context of strategically significant infrastructure

projects such as the Lobito Corridor in Angola and the Guarujá Tunnel in Brazil. These

initiatives exemplify how China, Portugal, and Lusophone partner countries can leverage

complementary strengths in financing, technical expertise, historical connectivity, and

regulatory mediation. The Lobito Corridor has the potential to enhance regional

integration in Southern Africa by improving transport efficiency between mineral‑rich

inland areas and Atlantic ports, while also positioning Angola as a logistical hub in

Sino‑African trade networks (Lobito Corridor, 2024, p. 9). Similarly, the Guarujá Tunnel

project highlights opportunities for cooperation in complex urban infrastructure,

combining Chinese engineering capacity with Portuguese institutional and linguistic

brokerage and Brazilian local knowledge (Macao News, 2025). Together, these cases

illustrate how trilateral frameworks can move beyond bilateral dynamics, contributing to

sustainable development, economic diversification, and strategic connectivity across the

Global South.

This special issue of JANUS.NET, e‑journal of International Relations, entitled “Portugal,

China, and International Relations”, invited contributions that critically examine the

historical, political, economic, and cultural dimensions of the Sino‑Portuguese bilateral

relationship. Contributors were encouraged to explore how interactions between Portugal

and China shape broader processes of global governance, regional integration, and the

formation of transnational networks.

JANUS.NET, e-journal of International Relations

e-ISSN: 1647-7251

VOL. 16, Nº. 2, TD2

Thematic Dossier - Portugal and China in International Relations: Historical Legacies

and Contemporary Dynamics

February 2026, pp. 2-8

Editorial. Portugal and China in International Relations: Historical Legacies

and Contemporary Dynamics

Yichao Li, Francisco José B. S. Leandro, Wang Yinkangni

The thematic scope of the special issue included, but was not limited to, the following

areas of inquiry: 1) the role of the Macao Special Administrative Region in fostering

connectivity, education and language policies as instruments of soft power, scientific and

technological cooperation, cultural diplomacy, and paradiplomacy; 2) Sino‑Portuguese

foreign relations, with particular attention to issues of fragility, cultural relations, and

bilateral cooperation; 3) diasporas and education as vectors of transnational exchange

and mutual influence; and 4) an additional dossier featuring a study on Brazil’s economic

complexity, which contributes to situating the economic trajectories of Brazil and China

within the broader context of the Global South.

Collectively, these contributions advance scholarly understanding of the evolving

dynamics of Portugal–China relations and their wider international and comparative

significance. By engaging with a diverse range of political, economic, and cultural themes,

this special issue offers a nuanced analysis of how Portugal and China navigate the

complexities of an increasingly multipolar world order. The articles gathered here not

only shed light on bilateral interactions but also situate them within broader processes of

global governance, regional integration, and transnational connectivity, thereby

contributing to ongoing debates in international relations theory and comparative

diplomacy.

Importantly, this special issue also provides a platform for a number of early‑career and

emerging scholars, several of whom are publishing in a peer‑reviewed academic outlet

for the first time – all papers were double peer-reviewed and passed the similarity check.

By fostering scholarly inclusion and intellectual renewal, the issue reflects a commitment

to mentoring new academic voices and broadening the field of inquiry on Portugal–China

relations. In doing so, it underlines the value of intergenerational dialogue in academic

research and highlights the role of academic journals as spaces for both rigorous

scholarship and capacity‑building. Ultimately, the insights generated in this issue speak

not only to bilateral relations but also to wider debates on global interdependence, South–

South dynamics, and the evolving architecture of the international system.

References

ASEAN. (2025). Forging a New Era: Timor-Leste Admitted into ASEAN.

https://asean.org/forging-a-new-era-timor-leste-admitted-into-asean/

European Commission. (2026). EU-Mercosur agreement - EU Trade - European Union.

https://policy.trade.ec.europa.eu/eu-trade-relationships-country-and-region/countries-

and-regions/mercosur/eu-mercosur-agreement_en

Leandro, F. J. B. S. & Li, Y. (2025). Global Partners Not Contiguous Neighbors: The

Potential of Sino-Portuguese Cooperation. In Li, Y., Leandro, F., da Silva, J. T., Rodrigues,

C. (eds.). The Palgrave Handbook on China-Europe-Africa Relations. Plagrave Macmillian.

Lobito Corridor. (2024). The Lobito Corridor: What It Is and Why It Matters.

https://www.lobitocorridor.org/_files/ugd/9fa7ad_700894b8a8b9427faec094b5fbd0f5fc

.pdf

JANUS.NET, e-journal of International Relations

e-ISSN: 1647-7251

VOL. 16, Nº. 2, TD2

Thematic Dossier - Portugal and China in International Relations: Historical Legacies

and Contemporary Dynamics

February 2026, pp. 2-8

Editorial. Portugal and China in International Relations: Historical Legacies

and Contemporary Dynamics

Yichao Li, Francisco José B. S. Leandro, Wang Yinkangni

Macao News. (2025). A Sino-Portuguese consortium wins a major Brazilian tunnel

project. Retrieved from https://macaonews.org/news/lusofonia/santos-guaruja-tunnel-

mota-engil-cccc-brazil/

Wejchert, M. (2021). China’s influence in Portugal: A friend in need? European Council

on Foreign Relations.

Wise, P. (2020, 20 January). Lisbon rebuffs claims Portugal is China’s ‘special friend’ in

EU. Financial Times. https://www.ft.com/content/862c633e-393b-11ea-a6d3-

9a26f8c3cba4