As the world marks the 500th anniversary of the arrival of the Portuguese in China, a wave of Chinese investment and significant capital is flowing into Portugal. Portugal was the first European nation to establish a permanent settlement in China, and with the return of Macau to China in 1999, it also became the last European nation to depart from China. Today, Portugal is striving to attract foreign investment, while China is seizing the opportunities presented by the difficulties facing this Southern European nation.
An increasing number of Chinese investors are eyeing the opportunity presented by falling real estate prices in Portugal, purchasing luxury apartments in the best areas of Lisbon. The Portuguese government is working to attract this investment by offering residency status to Chinese nationals who invest over 500,000 euros in property in the country. This new policy, known as the "Golden Residence Permit Program," has attracted more and more Chinese people to purchase real estate in Portugal. Immigration experts believe that for children intending to study in Europe, they can more easily access higher education in EU countries, and the costs will be much lower than those for studying in non-EU countries. Therefore, as a Schengen country, Portugal offers not only residency through property purchase but also benefits for children's education, as well as convenience for business and travel.
As China rapidly becomes an important destination for European wine exports, Chinese companies have also shown interest in vineyards and olive groves in southern Portugal. Over the past two years, Chinese companies have also acquired significant stakes in strategic industries in Portugal, such as water, electricity, and telecommunications. In 2011, the China Three Gorges Corporation acquired a 22% stake in Energias de Portugal (EDP). This March, Beijing Enterprises Water Group acquired the Portuguese assets of the French company Veolia Water. These acquisitions not only provide China with a foothold in Portugal but also further promote Beijing's expansion in South America, Africa, and other Portuguese-speaking regions.
Over the past 10 years, China's influence in Portugal's former colonies has continued to expand. It has now become Brazil's largest trading partner, while Angola had already become China's largest trading partner in Africa by 2012. Beijing's rapid penetration into the Portuguese market will further enhance its influence in the Portuguese-speaking world, while also making it easier for it to access Western technology and European and American markets.
Chinese interest in Portugal and Southern Europe will continue to grow. To date, China has purchased 1.3 billion US dollars in Portuguese government bonds and has allocated 1 billion US dollars to support investment projects in China and 8 Portuguese-speaking countries... For Portugal and its neighbors, which are in urgent need of capital, investment from China is likely to play an important role in their economic future.
