The Secretary-General of the Permanent Secretariat of the Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Macao), Ms Xu Yingzhen, paid a courtesy call on October 15 to the new Consul-General of Portugal in Macao and Hong Kong, Mr Paulo Cunha Alves. She was accompanied by the three Deputy Secretaries-General of Forum Macao, Mr Ding Tian, Mr Rodrigo Brum and Ms Glória Batalha Ung. Portugal’s Representative in Forum Macao, Ms Maria João Bonifácio, was also in attendance.

Ms Xu congratulated Mr Cunha Alves on his appointment as Portugal’s new Consul-General in Macao. She provided him with a brief introduction on the development and work of Forum Macao, and also expressed thanks for the strong support provided by the Consulate-General of Portugal in Macao to Forum Macao throughout the years.

Ms Xu stated she hoped that, under the leadership of Mr Cunha Alves, the Portuguese Consulate would continue strengthening exchanges and cooperation with the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao, supporting the positioning of Macao as a Commercial and Trade Cooperation Service Platform between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries.

Mr Cunha Alves said that the Portuguese Government attached great importance to Forum Macao’s work and to Macao’s role as a cooperation platform, as did he personally. He was fully committed to continue supporting the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao, in order to boost economic and trade cooperation and cultural exchanges between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries.