A delegation led by Vice Governor of Zhejiang Province Mr Zhu Congjiu paid a visit on April 12 to the headquarters of the Permanent Secretariat of the Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Macao). The two parties exchanged views on how to: implement the decisions reached at the Extraordinary Ministerial Meeting of Forum Macao, held on April 10; make the most of Macao’s role as a platform; boost ties between Zhejiang Province and Portuguese-speaking Countries; and deepen economic and trade cooperation between Zhejiang and Macao, as well as between Zhejiang and Portuguese-speaking Countries.

During the visit, Vice Governor Mr Zhu gave a presentation on Zhejiang Province, and discussed trade links between Zhejiang and Portuguese-speaking Countries, as well as progress on bilateral cooperation projects.

The Vice Governor said several large-scale promotion activities had been organised in Zhejiang in recent years, actively to promote opportunities in Portuguese-speaking markets and deepen trilateral cooperation between Zhejiang, Macao and Portuguese-speaking Countries. That, he said, had resulted in increasingly close economic and trade ties between Zhejiang and Portuguese-speaking Countries.

In addition, Vice Governor Mr Zhu also expressed willingness to understand better, via the visit to Forum Macao, the advantages of Macao as a platform for economic and trade cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries. That was in order to deepen effective cooperation between Zhejiang, Macao and Portuguese-speaking Countries in trade, cross-border electronic commerce, investment, and conventions and exhibitions activities, among other areas.

The Secretary-General of the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao, Mr Ji Xianzheng, welcomed the Zhejiang Provincial Government’s delegation led by Vice-Governor Mr Zhu, for its visit to Forum Macao. Mr Ji then gave a brief presentation on Forum Macao, the role of its Permanent Secretariat, and the outcome of the Extraordinary Ministerial Meeting recently held in Macao.

The Secretary-General pointed out that the Premier of the State Council of China, Mr Li Keqiang, and high-level representatives of the governments of the eight Portuguese-speaking Countries, had sent video messages for the opening ceremony of the Extraordinary Ministerial Meeting of Forum Macao, praising the results achieved so far by Forum Macao, and sharing valuable suggestions for its development. Mr Ji also pointed out that a Joint Declaration had been signed during the Extraordinary Ministerial Meeting, pointing the way forward for cooperation in various areas covered by Forum Macao.

Delegates of Portuguese-speaking Countries to Forum Macao also welcomed the visit of the delegation from Zhejiang Province. They exchanged views with members of the delegation on promoting economic and trade cooperation between their respective countries and Zhejiang. They also made brief presentations about each of their respective countries.

Attendees at the meeting included: Vice Governor of Zhejiang Province Mr Zhu Congjiu; Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of Zhejiang Province, Mr Jin Yonghui; Deputy Director General of the Department of Commerce of Zhejiang Province, Mr Zhang Qianjiang; Deputy Director of the Local Financial Regulatory Bureau of Zhejiang Province, Mr Sheng Yijun; Secretary-General of the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao, Mr Ji Xianzheng; Deputy Secretary-General of the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao (appointed by the People’s Republic of China), Mr Ding Tian; Deputy Secretary-General of the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao (appointed by the Portuguese-speaking Countries), Mr Paulo Jorge do Espírito Santo; Coordinator of the Executive Office of the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao, Mr He Meng; Coordinator of Forum Macao’s Liaison Office and Representative of Cabo Verde at the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao, Mr Nuno Furtado; Coordinator of the Support Office of the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao, Ms Teresa Mok; Representative of Angola at the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao, Mr Agostinho dos Santos; Representative of Guinea-Bissau at the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao, Mr Abdú Jaquité; Representative of Mozambique at the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao, Ms Francisca Reino; Representative of Portugal at the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao, Ms Maria João Bonifácio; Representative of São Tomé and Príncipe at the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao, Mr Gika Simão; and Representative of Timor-Leste at the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao, Mr Danilo Henriques.