Chinese Ambassador to Portugal Cai Run has said Macao can help train people from lusophone countries in the business of finance, the Macao SAR Government says.

A written statement issued by the government quotes Mr Cai as saying so to Macao Finance and Economy Secretary Lionel Leong Vai Tac when they met in Lisbon last week.

Mr Cai said finance was a new field for successful Sino-Portuguese cooperation, and that Macao could play its part in the cooperative effort by performing its function as a place where China and the Portuguese-speaking world can conduct business.

Among new industries the Macao government is trying to nurture are specialised finance and Chinese traditional medicine, the statement quotes Mr Leong as saying.