The 10th Ordinary Meeting of the Permanent Secretariat of the Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Macao) took place in Macao on March 31, 2015.

The meeting was attended by representatives from the Chinese Ministry of Commerce and the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in Macao; by the Ambassadors in Beijing of Portuguese-speaking Countries; by the Focal Points of the Portuguese-speaking Countries; and by representatives from the Macao SAR Government.

During the meeting, members from the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao presented the work done in 2014. The plan of activities for 2015 was approved.

The Investment Promotion Agency of the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China also presented an overview of the works performed in 2014 and its plan of activities for 2015.

At the meeting, the China Development Bank made a presentation about the progress of the China and Portuguese-speaking Countries Co-operation and Development Fund.

The new Deputy Secretary-General of the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao appointed by the Macao SAR Government, Ms Echo Chan; and the new Representatives of Angola, Mr Belarmino Barbosa; and of Mozambique, Ms Francisca Reino; were also presented during the meeting.

With the support of the Participating Countries in Forum Macao and the Macao SAR Government, the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao elected as its main task for 2014 the implementation of the ‘Eight New Measures’ announced at the 4th Ministerial Conference of Forum Macao.

In 2014, the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao actively engaged in trade and investment promotion, human resource co-operation and in the promotion of Macao’s platform role, therefore fully achieving the goals set for 2014.

On trade and investment promotion, the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao organised and participated in around 30 activities, covering several fields from economy to trade, in Mainland China, Portuguese-speaking countries and Macao. Through these events, the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao was able to promote the advantages of Macao’s platform role; the investment and business environment in Portuguese-speaking Countries; and to publicise the China and Portuguese-speaking Countries Co-operation and Development Fund. The Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao joined several trade shows and similar events as an exhibitor and organised several promotional presentation sessions.

Regarding human resource co-operation, the Training Centre of Forum Macao in 2014 organised six training seminars in Macao and one in Portugal, with a total of 164 participants, including civil servants and professionals from Portuguese-speaking Countries, Mainland China and the Macao SAR Government. The seminars covered the following areas: customs; China’s Special Economic Zones; tourism and convention and exhibition management; public health; public administration; fiscal policies; trade; and economic diversification.

To promote the role of Macao as a platform, the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao organised the 6th Cultural Week of China and Portuguese Speaking Countries. Several artists from Mainland China, Macao and Portuguese-speaking Countries joined the festival and hosted many high profile art activities.

The Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao also provided support to TDM – Teledifusão de Macau, S.A. and several broadcasters and news agencies from Portuguese-speaking Countries in the signing of co-operation agreements, thus promoting exchanges and co-operation in broadcasting between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries.