Loro Horta, Ian Storey ”China’s Portuguese Connection” http://yaleglobal.yale.edu/display.article?id=7634
国際的にもあまり注目されていない中国と葡萄牙語圏諸国との関係について論評している。
葡萄牙語圏の諸国は”Comunidade dos Países de Língua Portuguesa (CPLP)”を形成しており、その参加国は”Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea Bissau, Mozambique, Portugal, the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe, and the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste”という８か国を数える。これらの国は併せて２億3000万の人口を擁し、中国と190億ドルの貿易関係がある。
中国がCPLP諸国との関係を重視する理由について、両氏は、
と分析している。個々のCPLP諸国への中国の関与についての叙述が続くのだが、旧殖民地宗主国である葡萄牙との関係は国際政治上（特にEUとの関係において）重要であると見られる。曰く、
China has several reasons for pursuing a relationship with CPLP: First and foremost is energy security. Over the past few years, energy security, particularly oil supply security, has become a priority for the Chinese leadership. China is now the world’s second largest consumer of energy resources after the US. More than 60 percent of China’s crude oil imports come from the Middle East, and Beijing views this dependency as a strategic vulnerability because of ongoing political instability and US military preponderance in and around the region. China is therefore trying to diversify its energy imports away from traditional sources in the Persian Gulf. These include CPLP countries such as Angola, Brazil, Mozambique and Timor-Leste. Second, Beijing is keen to exploit CPLP countries’ rich natural resources to fuel the country’s own breakneck economic growth. Third, 230 million people represent a major market for Chinese manufactured goods. And finally, the Portuguese-speaking organization represents a diplomatic community, one that China can utilize to restrict Taiwan’s international space.
なお、中国の戦略の特徴として、個々の国だけでなくCPLP全体と関係を築いていることが挙げられる；
In December 2005 China and Portugal established a strategic partnership. While a small power, Portugal has been a useful friend, with Lisbon well disposed toward ending the EU arms embargo on China. Portugal’s 500-year-old relationship with Africa and its strong presence on the continent that goes beyond its former colonies are valuable assets for China. Beijing values its ties with Lisbon – enough to deem the country as one of five in Europe awarded status of strategic partner.
ロナウディーニョ（小羅）が聯想（Lenovo）のイメージ・キャラクターになったのはこれとは関係ないか。
Having relations with CPLP members is hardly unique, but China’s methods are quite farsighted, attesting to the increasing sophistication of Chinese diplomacy. Unlike other powers who have engaged in close relations with particular CPLP countries – but had little or no interaction with other members – China not only connects with the various CPLP nations on a bilateral basis but also as a group. With the former Portuguese enclave of Macau, sovereignty of which returned to the PRC on December 20, 1999, serving as a hub, China has organized a series of initiatives that not only bring the Portuguese-speaking nations closer together, but also closer to China. In 2003 China and the CPLP signed a Trade and Cooperation Agreement, and agreed to hold triennial meetings with CPLP and PRC trade ministers. Similar arrangements are planned for other portfolios.
