On October 11, 2024, the Ambassador of the People's Republic of China, Dr.Zhao Bentang attended the signing and launching ceremony of the Sino-Portuguese Joint Institute of Climate and Energy between China University of Petroleum (Beijing) and Lisbon Institute of Technology and delivered a speech. Prof. Rogerio Colaco, president of the Institute of Technology of the University of Lisbon, Prof. Bao Zhidong, Vice-rector of China University of Petroleum (Beijing), and relevant Chinese and Portuguese experts and scholars attended the event.

Ambassador Dr. Zhao Bentang pointed out that in the context of global carbon neutrality, the importance of using high-tech means such as artificial intelligence to promote the development of clean energy and respond to climate change has become increasingly prominent, and the friendly cooperation between China and Portugal has contributed to Portugal's outstanding achievements in the field of clean energy. Ambassador Dr.Zhao Bentang encouraged young Chinese and Portuguese scientists to deepen friendly cooperation and write a new chapter in the 500-year traditional friendship between China and Portugal.