A delegation led by the Deputy Mayor of Zhongshan, Mr Yang Wenlong, on July 30 paid a visit to the Permanent Secretariat of the Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Macao), also known as Forum Macao. The delegation also took part in a meeting about co-operation between Zhongshan, Macao and Portuguese-speaking Countries.

The Secretary-General of the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao, Mr Chang Hexi, gave a warm welcome to the Zhongshan Delegation and introduced the role of Macao as a service platform for co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries in several areas, including: economic and trade co-operation; human resources; and cultural exchange. The Secretary-General said there is a will to develop the relationship that began this year between Zhongshan and Portuguese-speaking Countries. He expressed his wish that exchanges and co-operation between Portuguese-speaking Countries and the Cuiheng New Zone might be strengthened via Macao’s service platform.

In his turn, the Deputy Mayor of Zhongshan, Mr Yang Wenlong, stated that Zhongshan, and the seven Portuguese-speaking Countries that are members of Forum Macao, have a great potential for co-operation. He added he wished to see co-operation between Zhongshan and the Portuguese-speaking Countries enhanced by taking advantage of the role of Macao as a bridge to connect them. The Deputy Mayor also presented an analysis based on three main points: 1) a commitment to promoting the projects of Zhongshan’s Cuiheng New Zone in co-operation with Macao; 2) a commitment to promoting the construction of a logistics centre for Portuguese-speaking Countries’ trade and economic products; 3) the promotion of deep, global, co-operation between Zhongshan, Macao and Portuguese-speaking Countries.

During the meeting, representatives from both sides made brief presentations on several topics and exchanged ideas on issues of common interest. Both sides expressed a wish actively to develop exchanges and economic and trade co-operation.

According to those presentations, Zhongshan, Macao and Portuguese-speaking Countries complement each other in terms of manufacturing and market structure, as well as in terms of potential for co-operation. The meeting was an opportunity to strengthen exchanges and enhance co-operation between Portuguese-speaking Countries and Zhongshan.

The presentations made by both sides regarding the investment environment, business and trade opportunities, served to encourage the promotion of co-operation in several projects. Such co-operation can contribute to common development of communities, as well as provide opportunities for co-operation between companies – namely small- and medium-sized enterprises – in Mainland China, Portuguese-speaking Countries and Macao. Through these initiatives, the role of Macao as a service platform for trade co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries can be deepened.