The Secretary-General of the Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Macao), also known as Forum Macao, Ms Xu Yingzhen, the Deputy Secretary-General of Forum Macao, Ms Echo Chan, the General Consul of Portugal for Macao and Hong Kong, Mr Vítor Sereno, and the Trade Advisor to the Consulate-General of Portugal in Macao and Hong Kong, Ms Maria João Bonifácio, witnessed on May 2 the signing of a Cooperation Protocol between Zhuhai Public Technical Service Platform for Import and Export (IETP) and Portugal’s Economic and Food Safety Authority (ASAE). The signing ceremony was held in Macao.

The Director of the Zhuhai Exit and Entry Inspection and Quarantine Bureau, Li Qingxiang, and ASAE’s Inspector-General, Mr Pedro Gaspar, signed the cooperation protocol.

Both parties agreed to enhance cooperation regarding laboratory technological development, management and operations. The two sides additionally agreed to share information, to establish partnerships to develop specific projects, to promote exchanges between technical staff and training, among other measures.

The Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao has been committed in promoting cooperation between Mainland China and Portuguese-speaking Countries, supported by Macao’s role as a cooperation platform between the two sides. The signing of this protocol will allow for the strengthening of exchange and contacts between public entities and technical services from Mainland China and Portugal, launching a solid cooperation platform in related fields. It will also strengthen Macao’s role as a platform, namely through the Food Product Distribution Centre for Portuguese-speaking Countries and the Commercial and Trade Service Centre for SMEs of China and Portuguese-speaking Countries.