Addressing the 20th anniversary reception of the Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (also known as Forum Macao) held yesterday afternoon at the China-Portuguese-speaking Countries Commercial and Trade Service Platform Complex in Nam Van, Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng highlighted its positive role of building a platform for Sino-Lusophone business cooperation and services in Macau.
Addressing yesterday’s reception, Ho said he hoped that the Forum Macau could make full use of Macau’s unique advantages and the opportunities provided by the development of the Guangdong-Macau In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, in conjunction with Macau’s “1+4” strategy for its appropriate and diversified development, so that Macau enterprises can play a greater role in promoting economic and trade cooperation between the mainland and Portuguese-speaking countries.
The “1+4” concept was laid out by Ho in his 2023 Policy Address last November, according to which the Macau government will consolidate the development of the city’s tourism and leisure industry while putting special emphasis on promoting the development of four new key industries, namely big health; modern finance; high tech; and conventions and exhibitions as well as culture and sports.
Ho said that the local government has been actively promoting the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), focusing on developing the Macau Special Administrative Region (MSAR) as “One Centre, One Platform and One Base”, making good use of the central government’s supporting policies and measures, so as to continue to better integrate Macau into the nation’s overall development.
The government’s “One Centre, One Platform and One Base” policy refers to its determination to further develop Macau’s role as a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure, an economic and trade cooperation platform for China and Portuguese-speaking countries as well as a cultural exchange and cooperation base.
Ho also said the local government will continue to fully support the work of the Permanent Secretariat of the Forum Macau, so as to further expand its functions of promoting Macau’s Sino-Lusophone cooperation platform and help deepen economic and trade cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, and jointly embrace new opportunities and widen prospects.
The chief executive also said that economic and trade cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries has achieved “encouraging results, with strengthened ties in various fields.” He also said that Forum Macao’s 20th anniversary was not only a historic milestone, but also a prime moment for high-quality advances in Macau’s role of linking China and the Portuguese-speaking world.
Meanwhile, Forum Macao Permanent Secretariat Secretary General Ji Xianzheng said that over the past 20 years, with the strong support of the central government, the active cooperation of the local government and the joint participation and efforts of Portuguese-speaking countries, Forum Macao has been playing an irreplaceable role in promoting exchanges and cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries in various fields, as well as enhancing the influence of Portuguese-speaking countries in China.
Li Xiaohui, deputy director-general of the Department of Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau Affairs of the Ministry of Commerce (MOC), pointed out that trade between China and Portuguese-speaking countries has leapt from US$11.03 billion in 2003 to US$214.83 billion last year, while people-to-people exchanges between China and Portuguese-speaking countries have been “rich and colourful”, with more than 13,000 people from Portuguese-speaking countries attending training programmes and studying in the mainland and in Macau.
Head of the Delegation of the Portuguese-speaking countries in China Maria Gustava, said in her speech that the Portuguese-speaking countries are willing to work together with China to build a better China-Lusophone forum to expand its influence and dynamism, in order to respond to a complex, ever changing and challenging global situation.
Yesterday’s reception was attended by nearly 300 participants, including representatives from various sectors, business associations, universities, Portuguese-speaking countries and enterprises from the mainland.
Forum Macao comprises Angola, China, Brazil, Cabo Verde (Cape Verde), Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Portugal, São Tomé and Príncipe, and Timor-Leste (East Timor). Its total population of 1.7 billion accounts for about one-fifth of the world’s population.
Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng addresses yesterday’s 20th anniversary reception hosted by Forum Macao at its headquarters in Nam Van. – Photo: GCS
Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng (centre) and senior officials from the local and central governments and the world’s nine Portuguese-speaking Countries pose at the 20th anniversary reception of the Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation Between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Forum Macao) at the China-Portuguese-speaking Countries Commercial and Trade Service Platform Complex in Nam Van. – Photo by GCS
