A Seminar on the 15th Anniversary of the Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Macao) – a body also known as Forum Macao –, and the positioning of Macao as a Platform between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries, was held in Macao on March 21. The event was attended by: the Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, Mr Ho Hau Wah; the Secretary for Economy and Finance of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR), Mr Leong Vai Tac; the Deputy Director-General of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao SAR, Mr Yao Jian; the Deputy Director General of the Department of Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao Affairs of the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China, Mr Sun Tong; and the Secretary-General of the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao, Ms Xu Yingzhen.

Other guests at the seminar included: former high-level officials who took part in previous editions of the Ministerial Conferences of Forum Macao; Ambassadors to Beijing of some Portuguese-speaking Countries; the Focal Points of the Portuguese-speaking Countries; and former Secretaries-General and Deputy Secretaries-General of the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao. Among the 200 guests attending the event were also representatives from: the General Office of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China; the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council; the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao SAR; the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China; the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade; the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences; other experts and academics; and representatives from several Macao associations.

The seminar included four panels on, respectively: the origins of Forum Macao, its development and prospects; the role of Forum Macao and its contributions to the positioning of Macao as a cooperation platform; cooperation areas and models targeted by Forum Macao; and the further development and revamp of Forum Macao.

All participants expressed their satisfaction regarding the development of Forum Macao, noting that throughout the past 15 years, Forum Macao had achieved remarkable results. The business sector and the development of society as a whole had benefited from the efforts of all involved in Forum Macao. Forum Macao’s influence was ever growing, in terms of strengthening cooperation, and in terms of the continuous search for new areas of collaboration. The Seminar heard the goal was for Forum Macao to help boost sustainable economic growth and trade ties between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries, while contributing to the Macao SAR’s social and economic development, and the implementation of the “One Belt, One Road” initiative.