On the afternoon of June 27, the 2023 Zhejiang-Macao-Portuguese-Speaking Countries Economic and Trade Co-operation and Exchange Conference took place at the Cotai Expo of the Venetian Macao. The Chief Executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region, Mr Ho Iat Seng, and the Secretary of the CPC Zhejiang Provincial Committee, Mr Yi Lianhong, both delivered speeches at the event. On the occasion, the Director-General of the Department of Commerce of Zhejiang Province, Mr Han Jie, made a presentation on Zhejiang’s trade and investment environment, and the Secretary-General of the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao, Mr Ji Xianzheng, presented on the development of economic and trade cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (PSCs).

Secretary-General Ji Xianzheng gave a brief overview of Forum Macao and its Permanent Secretariat. He emphasized that the development of Forum Macao over the past 20 years has been highly valued and strongly supported by all participating countries, and its influence has been continuously strengthened. The nine PSCs participating in Forum Macao are all coastal countries with common interests in the blue economy and agricultural production protection. He noted that these countries are at different stages of development, and their needs for cooperation with China also vary, with the majority of them prioritizing infrastructure construction, industrial investment, and export diversification. Forum Macao has played a constructive role in intensifying official exchanges, strengthening economic and trade cooperation, and promoting people-to-people exchanges among the participating countries.

In light of the imperative need for countries to develop their economies after the epidemic, Forum Macao will continue to focus on practical cooperation and make its efforts in providing “Chinese Solution” and “Macao Contribution” to build a high-quality friendship, a cooperation platform, and a community of shared future between China and PSCs. The provincial government and Zhejiang enterprises are encouraged to fully utilize the Macao platform to expand and diversify economic, trade, and cultural cooperation with PSCs. The Permanent Secretariat reaffirmed its commitment to provide services to all parties by integrating its services in the areas of economic and trade conventions and exhibitions, the Training Center, the Exchange Center for Epidemic Prevention, the Cultural Week, media publicity, and so on.