BEIJING, Nov. 13 (Xinhuanet) -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel has taken her message of fiscal discipline to Portugal. After a visit to the fort at Sao Juliao da Barra with Portuguese Prime Minister, Pedro Passos Coelho, the pair gave a news conference where they both advocated the benefits of austerity and economic reforms.

Merkel said, "I think Portugal’s conditions for growth have improved greatly recently, because of this adjustment program and the courageous action of the government."

Portugal needed a 78 billion euro rescue last year. The country won ’s praise for enacting the economic reforms and spending cuts as promised in return for the bailout. Germany and other bailout lenders are keen for Portugal to stay the course, sparing the more difficulties like those in bailed-out .

(Source: CNTV.cn)