China is willing to make joint efforts with Portugal to advance and deepen the China-Portugal comprehensive strategic partnership, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said Thursday.

"In recent years, China and Portugal have maintained good cooperative relations," Jiang said at a regular press briefing.

"We appreciate the importance Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates has attached to developing Portugal-China relations and the efforts he has made to enhance the communication and cooperation between the two countries," Jiang said, when asked to comment on Socrates' resignation.

Socrates announced Wednesday that he was stepping down from his post and that the country would hold new parliamentary elections. The decision was made after the parliament rejected the fourth Stability and Growth Pact measures.