Last month, Chinese dissident artist Ai Weiwei inaugurated his first art exposition called “Rapture” in his new adoptive country, Portugal. At the press preview of the show, Ai expressed his gratitude to the host country by starting his inauguration speech with “Welcome to my country, Portugal.” Weiwei moved from the UK to Portugal two years ago. His reasons for it came from his expressed love for Portuguese traditional crafting and its slow-paced life. Portuguese media has enthusiastically covered his stay in Portugal as well as his art exhibition in Lisbon. Given that Ai is a famous Chinese dissident and an outspoken critic of the Communist Party, how does this affect Portugal and China’s bilateral relations? In the last 10 years, the diplomatic and economic relationship between Portugal and China has grown significantly, even by EU standards. That closer relationship, paradoxically, was accompanied by a proliferation of anti-Communist Party rhetoric in Portuguese media. Ai Weiwei’s popularity among the Portuguese intellectual class takes place amid China’s failure at projecting its soft power projection abroad. However, that has not affected the growing presence of Chinese investment in the country or the receptivity of Portugal in receiving thousands of Chinese coming into the country each year. Developing its soft power has been one of the most important aspects of China’s foreign policy. Its international image has taken a nose-dive ever since the pandemic started, particularly in major European countries such as Germany, France or the United Kingdom. Although Portugal tends to receive less attention on geopolitical issues, it still shows us a complex relationship in the public discourse. China’s geopolitical and internal policies have been strongly criticised, but Chinese economic investment and intercultural relationships continue to grow. We must realise that most of this bilateral relationship has come through the initiative of Chinese individuals and families. The presence of Chinese-owned small businesses such as restaurants and Chinese stores plays an unquestionable role in the daily lives of people in Portugal. Interpersonal relationships might be one of the most effective mechanisms for China to succeed in its soft power objectives rather than trying to shape China’s image through an aggressive media campaign. Even if those relationships are made through Chinese individuals critical of their own government, China might benefit from it in the long term. Roberto Santos, Belas, Portugal