Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng praised the Macau-based Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries, also known as Forum Macao, for its “efficient cooperation mechanism” and its role as a “good service platform” that has been playing an important role in strengthening economic and trade cooperation and cultural exchanges between China and Portuguese-speaking countries.
Ho paid tribute to the forum, which celebrated its 20th anniversary last year, in his speech during last night’s welcome banquet at the Macau East Asian Games Dome in Cotai for the participants in its sixth ministerial conference, as well as guests. Informed sources said that about 800 people attended the dinner.
Ho also said that “at a time when the world economy is facing profound changes, solidarity, mutually beneficial cooperation and a joint response to challenges are even more important.” He also said that the forum has “achieved encouraging results” since it was established by the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) in conjunction with the local government and Portuguese-speaking countries.
Ho said that the timing of the forum’s 6th ministerial conference, which will take place today, was of “particular significance,” considering that Macau will celebrate this year the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the 25th anniversary of Macau’s return to the motherland.
The chief executive also said that the local government was “very honoured” to be the host organisation of the 10-nation forum. He pointed out that the forum “has chosen Macau as its permanent venue, fully demonstrating the central government’s strong support and trust in Macau, and reflecting the Portuguese-speaking countries’ affirmation and recognition of Macau’s position as a platform for commercial cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries.”
Ho also stressed that, apart from its role as a platform between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, Macau will continue to participate in and support the development of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and promote the high-quality development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area (GBA) and the Guangdong-Macau In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin.
‘A partnership forged with the right approach defies geographical distance’
Meanwhile, Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao underlined in his speech the forum’s “spirit of partnership that values harmony in diversity and solidarity in joint efforts.”
Wang quoted an ancient Chinese saying: “A partnership forged with the right approach defies geographical distance; it is thicker than glue and stronger than metal and stone.”
President Xi Jinping also quoted this adage back in September 2017 during the BRICS Summit in Xiamen.
Wang also underlined the forum’s great cooperation potential brought by the diversity of its 10 members. He also said that “Macau has fully leveraged the institutional advantages of ‘One Country, Two Systems’.”
The minister also emphasised that China is vigorously driving forward the Chinese path to modernisation through high-quality development, which will offer a wide range of opportunities around the world, including Portuguese-speaking countries.”
Wang added that China is “willing to work together with Portuguese-speaking countries to promote partnerships and respond to challenges, taking advantage of this ministerial conference to raise the level of China-Portuguese-speaking Countries’ economic and trade cooperation to a new level, thus contributing to realising the modernisation of our countries in the world.”
Last night’s banquet was also attended by Li Hongzhong, the first-ranked vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, one of the central authorities’ most senior officials.
Li will hold the keynote speech at this morning’s opening ceremony of the 6th ministerial conference. Edmund Ho Hau Wah, the first chief executive (1999-2009) of the Macau Special Administrative Region (MSAR), and the director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the MSAR, Zheng Xincong, also attended last night’s banquet alongside other local and mainland dignitaries.
The ministerial conference, which this afternoon will sign a three-year action plan for deepened cooperation and exchanges, will be followed tomorrow by an entrepreneurs’ conference focused on digital transformation and green development.
Forum Macao comprises China, its initiator and prime mover, and nine Portuguese-speaking countries – Angola, Brazil, Cabo Verde (Cape Verde), Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Mozambique, Portugal, São Tomé and Príncipe, and Timor-Leste (East Timor).
Due to the three-year COVID-19 pandemic and schedule issues, the last ministerial conference, which is supposed to be held every three years, took place in Macau back in October 2016.
Forum Macao’s Permanent Secretariat is headed by its Secretary-General Ji Xianzheng, who took up his current post in January 2022. Ji, who was previously posted to Venezuela, Spain and Portugal, specialises in commercial diplomacy. He is a former deputy director of the Department for European Affairs at the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) in Beijing.
Analysts have described Forum Macao as Macau’s most important institution dedicated to international relations and pointed out that it has elevated the MSAR’s international status and image to a considerable extent.
The nine Portuguese-speaking countries have a population of 290 million, about 200 million of them in Latin America’s economic powerhouse Brazil. Forum Macao’s 10 member states account for around one-fifth of the world population.
Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng (left) and Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao deliver speeches during last night’s welcome dinner for the participants in the 6th Ministerial Conference of Forum Macao, at the Macau East Asian Games Dome in Cotai. – Photos: GCS
