China’s Belt and Road Initiative is helpful to strengthen the economic relationship between China and Portuguese-speaking countries (PSCs), Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa said at the opening of the fifth Ministerial Conference of the Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and PSCs.
Costa, who came to Macau after top-level talks in Beijing and a fact-finding trip to Shanghai, said China attached great importance to partnerships with all parts of the world. The Belt and Road Initiative is an important example which is supported by Portugal, according to Costa.
“Portugal is willing to participate in building the new Maritime Silk Road, and make the best use of its strategic position in Europe and the Atlantic Ocean, such as the Port of Sines, to deepen the connection between Asia, Europe, Africa and South America,” he added.
Inaugurated in 2003, the forum is sponsored by the Ministry of Commerce of China, hosted by the Macau government and participated by seven PSCs: Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea Bissau, Mozambique, Portugal and East Timor.
Costa said he believed that as the world economy has undergone a weak recovery, the forum should create more trade co-operation. “The Portuguese-speaking countries have 250 million consumers and account for 4.6 percent of world GDP. They also have a diversified culture and mutually complementary economies. They have close relationship with the European Union, African Union and Association of Southeast Asian Nations,” he said.
Costa stressed that Portugal co-operates closely with China in renewable energy, environmental protection, marine development, and tourism. Many Chinese investors have come to Portugal and invested in the energy and finance sectors, Costa pointed out.
Costa said the forum could play a key role in promoting global co-operation in this mutually dependent yet fiercely competitive world. Portugal was willing to support the forum and its initiatives to promote common development and prosperity of China and PSCs and their relationships, he added.
– Xinhua, MPD
Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa addresses the opening ceremony of the 5th Ministerial Conference of the Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries at the Macau East Asian Games Dome in Cotai yesterday. – Xinhua
