The ‘High-Level Seminar on Finance and International Co-operation for Productivity between China and Portuguese-Speaking Countries’ was successfully held on June 3 at the Venetian Macao Convention and Exhibition Centre.

The High-Level Seminar was organised by the Permanent Secretariat of the Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Macao), also known as Forum Macao. Supporting bodies included: the China International Contractors Association; the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM); and the Monetary Authority of Macao.

Guests at the High-Level Seminar’s opening ceremony included: the Macao SAR’s Secretary for Economy and Finance, Mr Leong Vai Tac; East Timor’s Minister of Commerce, Industry and Environment, Mr Constâncio da Conceição Pinto; the Trade Advisor to the Department of Foreign Investment and Economic Cooperation of China’s Ministry of Commerce, Mr Han Yong; the Consul-General of Angola in the Macao SAR, Ms Sofia Pegado da Silva; the Deputy Director General of the Economic Affairs Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao SAR, Mr Zhu Hong; the Co-ordinator General for International Economic Dialogue of the Ministry of Finance of Brazil, Mr Marcos Machado Guimarães; the Deputy Co-ordinator of the Policy Research Office of the Office of the Commissioner of China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Macao SAR, Mr Li Yang; the Deputy Inspector General of the Inspectorate General of Construction and Real Estate of Cape Verde, Ms Adlisa Delgado; the Director General of the Trade Office of the Economic Affairs Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao SAR, Ms Chen Xing; the Director General of the Transport Infrastructure Directorate General of the Ministry of Public Works, Construction and Urbanism of Guinea-Bissau, Mr Sebastião de Pina; the Secretary-General of the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao, Mr Chang Hexi; and IPIM’s Executive Director, Ms Glória Batalha Ung.

Secretary Leong and Trade Advisor to the Ministry of Commerce, Mr Han, respectively gave a speech during the opening ceremony of the High-Level Seminar.

The event was held during the 7th International Infrastructure Investment and Construction Forum. Participants included: government officials from China, Macao and Portuguese-speaking Countries; business association representatives; and representatives from several companies.

The High-Level Seminar aimed to explore the development opportunities arising from the implementation of the “One Belt, One Road” initiative, namely by making use of Macao as a service platform to strengthen international exchanges in the fields of finance and co-operation. Attendees discussed new models of co-operation to create new areas for international collaboration and promote mutually beneficial results from such activities.