A celebratory dinner for the 15th anniversary of the establishment of Forum Macao and 10th Cultural Week of China and Portuguese-speaking Countries was held on October 16 at Macau Fisherman’s Wharf.

Guests joining the toasting ceremony included: the Secretary-General of the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao, Ms Xu Yingzhen; the Director-General of the Commercial Delegation of the Department of Economic Affairs of the Liaison Office of the Central Government in Macao, Ms Li Huaying; the Minister of Industry and Commerce of Mozambique, Mr Ragendra de Sousa; Ambassadors of Portuguese-speaking Countries in Beijing; and Consuls-general of Portuguese-speaking Countries in Macao.

Other guests at the event included: representatives of the co-organising bodies of the Cultural Week; artists from China and Portuguese-speaking Countries taking part in the Cultural Week; representatives from Macao’s industrial and trade sectors; and members of local associations.

In a speech during the event, Ms Xu noted the Cultural Week of China and Portuguese-speaking Countries had been held annually for 10 years. She expressed her gratitude for the strong support provided to the 10th Cultural Week by the event co-organisers, participating artists and diplomatic representatives from Portuguese-speaking Countries in Beijing. Ms Xu said such support had been very important to further the development of the Cultural Week, strengthening cultural exchanges and cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, and promoting mutual understanding between people.

Ms Xu highlighted 2018 as a landmark year as it marked the 15th anniversary of the establishment of Forum Macao. The Permanent Secretariat would continue to focus on Forum Macao’s stated goals of promoting cooperation, including in the field of arts and culture, in order to benefit the populations respectively from China and Portuguese-speaking Countries, through fresh and innovative forms of collaboration.