An official delegation led by the Secretary of the Municipal Committee and President of Zhoushan Municipality, Mr Zhou Jiangyong, visited on December 1 the Permanent Secretariat of the Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Macao), also known as Forum Macao.
The visit was aimed at exchanging ideas on how to improve co-operation between Zhoushan, a coastal city in Zhejiang Province, and Portuguese-speaking Countries, making use of the multilateral co-operation mechanism of Forum Macao and of Macao’s role as a bridging platform.
The Secretary-General of the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao, Mr Chang Hexi, welcomed the Zhoushan delegation.
Mr Chang delivered a brief presentation on Forum Macao’s main projects and work, including: the promotion of trade; co-operation regarding the training of human resources; and cultural exchanges.
Mr Chang highlighted the fact that the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao is committed to promoting economic and trade co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries. The Secretary-General said Portuguese-speaking Countries have abundant fishery resources, while Zhoushan has vast experience in developing the commercial fishing sector. The official said this could create opportunities for pratical co-operation between Zhoushan and Portuguese-speaking Countries, with the support of the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao.
Mr Zhou thanked the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao for acting as bridge between Zhoushan and the Portuguese-speaking Countries. He additionally said the municipality has already established co-operation mechanisms with, respectively, East Timor and Mozambique. The Municipality hopes to extend such types of co-operation to other Portuguese-speaking Countries, helping to internationalise Zhoushan’s fishing industry.
Those taking part in the meeting included: the Deputy Secretary-General of the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao, Mr Vicente de Jesus Manuel; the Co-ordinator of the Support Office to the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao, Ms Cristina Morais; the Co-ordinator of the Executive Office of the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao, Ms Zhang Jie; the Co-ordinator of the Liaison Office of the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao and Representative of Cape Verde at the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao, Mr Mário Vicente; and the Representatives of Portuguese-speaking Countries at the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao.