The co-operation between China and Cape Verde has entered a new stage, said Cape Verde’s Minister of Tourism, Investments and Business Development, Leonesa Fortes. The two countries are already discussing the possibility of new investment in Cape Verde by Chinese companies, as well as of new forms of support to Cape Verde’s small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) she added.

Ms Fortes made her remarks on Wednesday in Beijing, at the end of the second session of the Joint Commission for Economic, Technical and Commercial Cooperation between China and Cape Verde.

Speaking to Portuguese news agency Lusa, the Minister said the two-day meeting represented a “crucial turning point” in the bilateral co-operation. It would now become “more centred in economic partnerships” rather than on development support, she added.

The Minister stated issues discussed included “the possibility of Chinese companies investing in strategic sectors for the future of Cape Verde”, such as renewable energy, maritime affairs, civil aviation and tourism. Cape Verde plans to have 100 per cent of its energy needs supplied by renewable sources by 2020. Another “priority” project debated in the meeting was to create credit lines for Cape Verde’s SMEs.

While in Beijing, Ms Fortes met representatives from China Development Bank and Exibank; institutions that have been financing Chinese investments in Africa. She left Beijing on Wednesday to visit Shanghai, the last stop of a six-day visit to China.