A permanent exhibition in the Museum of the Presidency of the Republic, there were some state gifts from China which reveals an interesting path of interactions between the two countries.
History Of Portugal In The East (Scroll Painting)
China. Paper, wood, fabric
Gift by the Internacional Association of Portuguese Speaking Countries of Macau to President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa. State visit to China, 2019
Sino-Portuguese relations began when Jorge Álvares arrived in the southern city of Guangzhou in 1513. Around then, Portugal established trading activities in what is now known as Southern China, gradually expanded into Macau and paid rent to the Ming Empire.
Porcelain Oriental Figures
China. Porcelain
Gift by Holy House of Mercy of Macau to President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa. State visit to China, 2019
In 1846, Portugal dispatched João Maria Ferreira do Amaral to serve as governor of Macau. He unilaterally declared Macau a Portuguese colony, stopped annual rent payments to China, occupied the nearby Island of Taipa (which had never been Portuguese territory), and imposed a new series of taxes on Macau residents.
During WWII, Macau was never under Japanese military occupation, causing it to become a centre for refugees. In 1943, Portugal acceded to Japanese demands and Macau effectively became a Japanese protectorate.
Replica of Qin Dynasty Chariot
China, undated; Steel and wood
Gift from President Jiang Zemin to President Mário Soares. State visit to China, 1995
In 1979, following the formal establishment of diplomatic relations between People’s Republic of China and Portugal, the two countries reached a secret agreement to characterise Macau as a Chinese territory under Portuguese administration.
Oriental Goddess Guanyin Sculpture
China, undated. Ivory and coloured glass
Gift from President Jiang Zemin to President Mário Soares. State visit to China, 1995
After four rounds of talks, “the Joint Declaration of the Government of the People’s Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Portugal on the Question of Macau” was officially signed in April 1987.
Chinese Village Carved in Jadeite
China, undated. Qingtian stone
Gift from President Jiang Zemin of China to President Jorge Sampaio. State visit to Portugal, 1999
Relations between Portugal and China began to improve as talks in relation to Macau’s future were conducted and final agreement reach to return Macau to Chinese sovereignty in 1999.
Four Sheep Zun (Wine Vessel)
China, undated. Gilded bronze
Gift from the Prime Minister Wen Jiabao of China to President Jorge Sampaio. Visit to Portugal, 2005
After Macau returned to China, Portugal’s ties with China have largely been cultural and economic exchanges.
Celadon Plate with Dragon Pattern
China, undated. Porcelain coated with green glaze “celadon”
Gift from Taiwanese Mrs Ming Chu Hsu to President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa. Audience in Belém Palace, 2020
Mrs Ming Chu Hsu is a Taiwanese real estate investor in Portugal. She donated US$5 million for Covid medical equipment including 80 ventilators in 2020 and was granted audience to the President. The Legacy by Hilton will add to her Portuguese real estate portfolio, which her company says is worth more than US$1 billion. Whether or not she was given a golden visa for residency in Portugal as result was not certain, but many crazy rich mainland Chinese have made Portugal their country of choice for a second passport.
About the Museum of the Presidency of the Republic
Meet the Presidents of the Republic and their official residence, the Palace of Belém. Museu da Presidência da República (MPR), as it is called in Portuguese, is housed in the Palácio de Belém’s old coach house.
The history of the development of the republic in Portugal is detailed in chronological order. With oil portraits, personal items and various documents illustrating the history and career of each of the presidents of the Portuguese republic, the museum presents all of the heads of state that have marked the country’s 20th century.
Permanent Exhibitions at the MPR
- Implementation of the Republic and National Symbols
- The Republic and its Presidents and Portrait Gallery
- State Visits and Gifts
- Powers of the President of the Republic
- Honorary Orders
- Belém Palace
Operating Hours
- Tuesday to Friday, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
- Access is only allowed up to 30 minutes before closing.
- Closed every Monday, New Year’s Day, Easter Sunday, May 1st and Christmas
Museu da Presidencia da Republica
Palacio Nacional de Belem 1349-022, Lisbon, Portugal
Tel : +351 21 361 4660
Visited Aug 2023
@museupr
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