A delegation from the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the People’s Government of Beijing Municipality visited on March 8 the Permanent Secretariat of the Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Macao). One of the division heads of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the Beijing Municipal Government, Ms Yang Hong, led the delegation visiting the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao.

The two sides discussed the development of co-operation between Beijing and Portuguese-speaking Countries, in particular how to take full advantage of Forum Macao and Macao’s role as a platform.

The Coordinator of the Executive Office of the Permanent Secretariat, Mr Hu Huajun, welcomed the visiting delegation and gave a brief presentation on the work done by the Permanent Secretariat, as well as the activities planned for this year. Mr Hu said the Permanent Secretariat continues to promote economic and trade exchanges and co-operation in various areas, as well as organising the participation of representative delegations from Portuguese-speaking Countries at the China Beijing International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS).

The Permanent Secretariat is committed to providing the necessary support and framework for development of co-operation between Beijing and Portuguese-speaking Countries, said Mr Hu.

Ms Yang said that the Beijing delegation’s visit aimed to establish a mechanism for external co-operation with Portuguese-speaking Countries with help from Forum Macao, and to make use of Macao’s role as a platform between the two sides.

To support the development of the “Belt and Road” initiative and in line with the three co-operation agreements signed between Beijing and Macao, Ms Yang said Beijing and Portuguese-speaking Countries could deepen co-operation in various areas, such as: environmental protection, agriculture, transport and personnel training. Such co-operation would bring mutual economic and development benefits, contributing respectively to the prosperity of Beijing, Macao and Portuguese-speaking Countries.