The Permanent Secretariat of the Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Macao), also known as Forum Macao, hosted a press conference on October 17 to announce the activity programme for the 8th Cultural Week of China and Portuguese-speaking Countries.

Participants in the press conference included: the Deputy Secretary-General of the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao (appointed by the Portuguese-speaking Countries), Mr Manuel Vicente; the Deputy Secretary-General of the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao (appointed by the Macao SAR Government), Ms Cristina Morais; the Member of the Administration Committee of the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau, Mr Ma Kam Keong; the Head of Training and Quality Management Department of the Macao Government Tourism Office, Ms Leong Mei Choi; the Technical Adviser to the Division of Recreational Activities of the Department of Cultural Events of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, Mr António Machado; the President of the Portuguese Oriental Institute, Mr João Laurentino Neves; and the Representatives of the Member States of Forum Macao.

The Deputy Secretary-General, Mr Manuel Vicente; the Deputy Secretary-General, Ms Cristina Morais; and the President of the Portuguese Oriental Institute, Mr João Laurentino Neves, announced, respectively, the activities for this year’s Cultural Week.

This is the first major event organised by the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao since the 5th Ministerial Conference of the Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries in early October. The Cultural Week highlights the importance attached by Forum Macao to cultural exchanges between China and the Portuguese-speaking Countries and aims to deepen Macao’s role as a platform between China and those countries.

The Cultural Week of China and Portuguese-speaking Countries – an annual event – was devised in 2008. It is co-ordinated by the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao and jointly organised by the Cultural Affairs Bureau, the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau and the Macao Government Tourism Office.

Under the theme “One Belt, One Cultural Road”, the content of this year’s edition of the Cultural Week will focus on gastronomy, crafts, theatre, concerts, dance performances and art exhibitions. The event brings together a total of 142 invited guests, comprising: 107 music and dance performers, 3 artists, 5 chefs, 13 artisans and 14 theatre actors. They represent nine Portuguese-speaking Countries and regions (Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Portugal, East Timor, São Tomé and Príncipe, the Indian state of Goa, and the Indian Union Territories of Damão and Diu), as well as the city of Kunming, in Yunnan Province; and Macao.

By organising these activities, the Cultural Week aims to promote the guiding principles of the “Belt and Road” initiative, strengthening regional co-operation and Macao’s role as a platform between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries; and showcasing the gastronomy, art, theatre, dance and music from the places taking part.

This contributes to creating new opportunities linked to economic and trade promotion and exchanges in the fields of language and culture, helping to explore new business opportunities and facilitating the implementation in Macao of the “One Centre, One Platform” policies.

These efforts further strengthen the role of Macau as a platform between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries, including the strengthening of exchanges relating to language learning and culture.

Acknowledgements

Co-organisers
Cultural Affairs Bureau
Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau
Macao Government Tourism Office

Collaborators
IPOR – Portuguese Institute of the Orient
Angola-Macau Association
Association Macau ‘Casa do Brasil’
Macau-Cape Verde Friendship Association
Association of Cultural Entertainment of Goa, Damão and Diu
Association of the Guineans, Natural and Friends of the Guinea-Bissau
Mozambique Friends’ Association
Macanese Association
Macau ‘Casa de Portugal’
Association of São Toméan and Friends of São Tomé and Príncipe-Macau
Macau-Timor Friendship Association