SYNERGISTIC DYNAMICS OF SINO–PORTUGUESE PARTNERSHIP POLICIES: IMPLICATIONS FOR ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL COOPERATION

Authors

  • YINKANGNI WANG https://orcid.org/0009-0000-7194-0022
  • FRANCISCO JOSÉ B. S. LEANDRO https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1443-5828

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.26619/1647-7251.DT0126.6

Keywords:

Portugal, China, Macao, Guanxi, Synergy Effects, Cultural Diplomacy

Abstract

This study examines the synergistic effects of Sino-Portuguese economic cooperation and cultural engagement from 2003 to 2024, with particular attention to the role of “guanxi” as a relational framework. Drawing on qualitative analysis, the study explores how state-level diplomacy and people-to-people exchanges have jointly fostered trust, reciprocity, and long-term commitment. Evidence from state visits, cultural diplomacy programs, and educational exchanges demonstrates how economic cooperation provides material foundations for cultural engagement, while cultural exchange reduces communication barriers, fosters loyalty, and enhances resilience in bilateral relations. The findings highlight that economic and cultural cooperation do not operate in isolation but reinforce one another, generating outcomes greater than the sum of their parts. By situating Portugal as a functional power and China as a global actor, this research contributes to theoretical debates on relational international relations and offers practical insights into how cultural capital and economic collaboration can jointly shape sustainable partnerships.

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Author Biographies

YINKANGNI WANG, https://orcid.org/0009-0000-7194-0022

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

FRANCISCO JOSÉ B. S. LEANDRO, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1443-5828

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.

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Published

2026-02-11

Issue

Vol. 16 No. 2, TD2 (2026): Thematic Dossier - Portugal and China in International Relations: Historical Legacies and Contemporary Dynamics

Section

ARTICLES