On July 26 and 27, Ji Xianzheng, Secretary-General of the Permanent Secretariat of the Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Macao), led a delegation of the Permanent Secretariat to visit São Tomé and Príncipe. In São Tomé and Príncipe, the delegation met with Xu Yingzhen, Ambassador of China to São Tomé and Príncipe, Gareth Guadalupe, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and Communities of São Tomé and Príncipe, and Disney Leite Ramos, Minister of Economy of São Tomé and Príncipe. The delegation also hosted the Reception of the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao.

In the meeting with Gareth Guadalupe, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and Communities of São Tomé and Príncipe, and Disney Leite Ramos, Minister of Economy of São Tomé and Príncipe, Secretary-General Ji Xianzheng introduced China’s efforts to the Strategic Plan for Economic and Trade Cooperation of the 6th Ministerial Conference of Forum Macao, the results China has achieved, and cooperation in the fishery industry between provinces in mainland China and Portuguese-speaking countries (PSCs). The Permanent Secretariat is willing to maintain close communication with the relevant authorities of São Tomé and Príncipe, so as to implement the results achieved at the 6th Ministerial Conference. 

Minister Gareth Guadalupe thanked the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao for their reception of São Tomé and Príncipe during the 6th Ministerial Conference. He said that São Tomé and Príncipe would continue to promote cooperation with China in all sectors under Forum Macao’s framework, with a major focus on the digital economy, the blue economy, agriculture, fishery and SMEs, and would keep enhancing its productivity level while facilitating the modernization and industrialization of agriculture.

Minister Disney Leite Ramos affirmed the practical results made by China and São Tomé and Príncipe in their cooperation under Forum Macao’s framework. By combining the country’s priorities in sectors for development, he wished to cooperate with China in sectors including trade and investment, port construction, SMEs, human resources, medicine and hygiene, agriculture and fishery in a bid to create more jobs for young people and enhance the added value of the country’s products.

On July 26, the Reception of the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao was held in São Tomé. Secretary-General Ji Xianzheng delivered the welcoming speech. Disney Leite Ramos, Minister of Economy of São Tomé and Príncipe, made his remarks, followed by Xu Yingzhen, Ambassador of China to São Tomé and Príncipe. The representative in charge of the China-Portuguese Speaking Countries Cooperation and Development Fund (CPDFund) made a thematic presentation. The Reception was attended by around 60 representatives, including José Carvalho de Rio, Minister of Infrastructure and Natural Resources of São Tomé and Príncipe, Nilda Borges da Mata, Minister of Environment of São Tomé and Príncipe, representatives from relevant ministries and commissions of São Tomé and Príncipe, representatives of the Embassy of China in São Tomé and Príncipe, representatives from Chinese enterprises and China’s expert group in São Tomé and Príncipe, as well as representatives from the districts, trade promotion and financial institutions, enterprises, business associations and the media of São Tomé and Príncipe.

The delegation also visited a major agricultural export company, Diogo Vaz.

Danilo Henriques and Casimiro de Jesus Pinto, Deputy Secretaries-General; Li Xiaohui, Coordinator of the Executive Office; and Pedro Jorge de Abreu e Carvalho, Representative of São Tomé and Príncipe took part in the event as members of the Permanent Secretariat’s delegation.