The 12th 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 29, 2017.

The meeting was attended by representatives from the Ministry of Commerce of China and the Economic Affairs Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in Macao; by the Ambassadors to Beijing of Portuguese-speaking Countries; by the Focal Points of the Portuguese-speaking Countries; by the representative of São Tomé and Príncipe; by the members of the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao; and by representatives form the Macao SAR Government.

During the meeting, the Participating Countries approved the integration into Forum Macao of São Tomé and Príncipe. Additionally, members from the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao gave a presentation on the work done in 2016; and the plan of activities for 2016 was approved. Representatives attending the meeting also discussed matters related to the implementation of follow-up work generated from the 5th Ministerial Conference of Forum Macao.

The work report for 2016 mentioned that – with the support of the Participating Countries in Forum Macao and the Macao SAR Government – the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao had selected as its main task for 2016 the preparation work for the 5th Ministerial Conference of Forum Macao, while also implementing the Strategic Plan for Economic and Commercial Co-operation (2014-2016).

The report also mentioned that in 2016, the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao actively engaged in trade and investment promotion, human resource co-operation, cultural exchanges and in the promotion of Macao’s platform role, therefore fully achieving the goals set for 2016.

Regarding trade and investment promotion, the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao organised and co-organised eight activities, including the “High-level Seminar on Finance and International Co-operation in Production Capacity between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries” and the “China and Portuguese-speaking Countries’ Young Entrepreneurs Forum”. Additionally, the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao participated in 15 trade fairs and exhibitions, organised 20 visits to entities in Mainland China and Macao and hosted 30 delegations from Mainland China, Macao and Portuguese-speaking Countries.

Regarding training of human resources, the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao organised three seminars for delegations of Portuguese-speaking Countries, including the “Workshop on Training for SMEs from Portuguese-speaking Countries”, with a total of 71 participants. It also organised an internship for a group of 26 tourism professionals from Portuguese-speaking Countries.

In 2017, the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao will strive to fully achieving the goals set for the year, in line with the objectives set out in the Strategic Plan for Economic and Commercial Co-operation (2017-2019) and in the Memorandum of Understanding on Promoting Co-operation in Production Capacity, two documents approved at the 5th Ministerial Conference of Forum Macao. It will also take into consideration the 18 measures announced by China’s Premier, Li Keqiang.

The Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao has planned for 2017 activities to boost trade and investment promotion, enhance co-operation in production capacity and strengthen human resources training. These activities will support Macao’s platform role and promote the work done by Forum Macao. In addition, the Permanent Secretariat will continue to actively support the Macao SAR Government, in order to optimise the works for implementation of the “Platform and Centre” policies. In addition, the Permanent Secretariat will also support: the creation of a financial services platform between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries; the establishment of the Secretariat of the Federation of Entrepreneurs from China and Portuguese-speaking Countries; the establishment in Macao of the Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurship Centre of China and the Portuguese-speaking Countries; and the establishment in Macao of a Service Platform Complex for Commercial Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries. The Participating Countries unanimously approved the plan of activities for 2017.

During the meeting, the head of Mainland China’s delegation and the representatives of Portuguese-speaking Countries made a brief presentation regarding follow-up work from the 5th Ministerial Conference of Forum Macao. The representative from the Macao SAR Government made a presentation about the works toward the implementation of a Commercial and Trade Co-operation Service Platform between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries.

Additionally, the new members of the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao were introduced during the meeting. They are: the Deputy Secretary-General (appointed by the People’s Republic of China), Mr Ding Tian; the Deputy Secretary-General (appointed by the Portuguese-speaking Countries), Mr Rodrigo Brum; the Deputy Secretary-General (appointed by the Macao SAR), Ms Echo Chan; the new Representative of Brazil, Mr Rodrigo Mendes Araújo; and the new Representative of Portugal, Ms Maria João Bonifácio.

The Ordinary Meeting of the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao is an annual event that takes place in the beginning of each year. The meeting is attended by representatives from the Ministry of Commerce of China and the Economic Affairs Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in Macao; by the Ambassadors to Beijing of Portuguese-speaking Countries; by the Focal Points of the Portuguese-speaking Countries; by the members of the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao; and by representatives form the Macao SAR Government.