The Delegation of the Permanent Secretariat of the Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Macao), led by the Secretary-General of the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao, Mr Chang Hexi, visited Taiyuan, in China’s Shanxi Province, between June 25 and 27. It was there to take part in the activities of ‘Macao Week’ in that city, as well as to participate in the ‘Dynamic Macao Business and Trade Fair’, also held in Taiyuan.

During the event, the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao set up a Portuguese-speaking Countries Pavilion, and organised a Seminar on Business Co-operation between Shanxi, Macao and Portuguese-speaking Countries. Participants in the International Law and Trade Law Conference for Portuguese-speaking Countries – organised by the Training Centre of Forum Macao – also joined the Delegation to take part in the Seminar.

These events promoted by the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao in Taiyuan aim to publicise more fully the work being done by Forum Macao; highlight the role of Macao as a service platform; explain the investment environment and business opportunities of Portuguese-speaking Countries; and promote economic and trade regional co-operation.

In order to support the promotional activities of the Macao SAR Government in building Macao as a service platform for economic and trade co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries, the Permanent Secretariat set up the Portuguese-speaking Countries Pavilion in China Taiyuan Coal Transaction Centre – Exhibition Centre, during ‘Macao Week’ in Taiyuan, Shanxi. The aim was to explain the society and economy of, respectively, seven Portuguese-Speaking Countries – Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Portugal and East Timor. The Pavilion also promoted Forum Macao and Macao’s role as a service platform, by showcasing traditional products from each country, with additional explanatory photographs and texts.

The Delegates from the Portuguese-Speaking Countries at the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao, as well as the participants in the Conference, held exchanges with companies from Mainland China about the development of the mining, construction, tourism, and food sectors. All these activities contributed to building understanding of routes for cross-border co-operation and development, via Macao’s role as an exchange platform.

On June 26, the Vice-Governor of Shanxi Province, Mr Wang Yixin; the Deputy Director General of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao SAR, Mr Yao Jian; the Secretary-General of the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao, Mr Chang Hexi; the Deputy Secretary-General (appointed by Portuguese-speaking Countries) of the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao, Mr Vicente de Jesus Manuel; the Deputy Secretary-General (appointed by the Macao SAR Government) of the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao, Ms Echo Chan; and the Deputy Director of the Macao SAR Economic Services Bureau visited the Portuguese-Speaking Countries Pavilion and posed for an official photograph.

On the afternoon of June 26, the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao; the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM); and Shanxi Province’s Trade Bureau, jointly organised a seminar on Business Co-operation between Shanxi, Macao and Portuguese-speaking Countries, held at the Bing Zhou Hotel. The next day, the Delegation of the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao visited some premises of Taiyuan Iron & Steel (Group) Co. Ltd., and had the opportunity to see on-site the firm’s modern management and its working methods.

The activities held in Taiyuan contributed to promote more fully Forum Macao and Macao’s role as a service platform between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries. They also allowed for an introduction about the business and investment environment in the Portuguese-speaking Countries, as well as their policies, thus promoting pragmatic co-operation between companies from Mainland China – namely Shanxi Province –, and Macao and Portuguese-speaking Countries.

During the visit, exchange sessions were also offered for Mainland China companies interested in investing in Portuguese-Speaking Countries and in finding co-operation partners in those countries. Such sessions are also part of Macao’s role as a service platform for economic and trade co-operation between China and the Portuguese-speaking Countries.