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Delegation of the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao visits São Tomé and Príncipe, Cabo Verde and Portugal
Release time：2019-05-02
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Forum Macao delegation meets with São Tomé e Príncipe’s Minister of Public Works, Infrastructure, Natural Resources and Environment, Mr Osvaldo Abreu Forum Macao delegation meets with São Tomé e Príncipe’s Minister of Public Works, Infrastructure, Natural Resources and Environment, Mr Osvaldo Abreu
Forum Macao delegation meets with São Tomé e Príncipe’s Minister of Tourism, Culture, Commerce and Industry, Ms Maria da Graça Lavres Forum Macao delegation meets with São Tomé e Príncipe’s Minister of Tourism, Culture, Commerce and Industry, Ms Maria da Graça Lavres
Delegation meets with São Tomé e Príncipe’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and Communities, Ms Elsa Pinto Delegation meets with São Tomé e Príncipe’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and Communities, Ms Elsa Pinto
Delegation meets with Cabo Verde’s National Director for Foreign Policy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Communities, Mr Júlio Morais Delegation meets with Cabo Verde’s National Director for Foreign Policy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Communities, Mr Júlio Morais
Delegation meets with the President of the Cabo Verde TradeInvest, Ms Ana Barber Delegation meets with the President of the Cabo Verde TradeInvest, Ms Ana Barber
Delegation meets with Cabo Verde’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Energy, Mr Alexandre Dias Monteiro Delegation meets with Cabo Verde’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Energy, Mr Alexandre Dias Monteiro
Delegation meets with the Deputy Executive of AICEP Portugal Global – Trade & Investment Agency, Mr António Carlos Silva Delegation meets with the Deputy Executive of AICEP Portugal Global – Trade & Investment Agency, Mr António Carlos Silva

Deputy Secretary-General of the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao Mr Ding Tian headed a working group as part of a delegation to São Tomé and Príncipe, Cabo Verde and Portugal from April 16 to 27. The delegation was led by the Director General of the Department of Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao Affairs at the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China, Mr Sun Tong.


During the São Tomé and Príncipe leg of the visit, the Forum Macao delegates visited respectively: São Tomé e Príncipe’s Minister of Public Works, Infrastructure, Natural Resources and Environment, Mr Osvaldo Abreu; the Minister of Tourism, Culture, Commerce and Industry, Ms Maria da Graça Lavres; and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and Communities, Ms Elsa Pinto. The delegation also participated in a meeting with officials at the Chinese Embassy in São Tomé and Príncipe.


The delegation members and São Tomé and Príncipe officials agreed to work to boost mutual economic and trade development. In particular they expressed a wish to foster the sustainable development of small and medium-sized enterprises, and of tourism, namely by making use of Forum Macao and Macao’s role as a cooperation platform, as well as via assistance from the China-Portuguese Speaking Countries Cooperation and Development Fund. The two sides exchanged views on a number of specific topics. They included how to promote products and services particular to São Tomé and Príncipe in China’s investment market via the second edition of the China International Import Expo (CIIE). The parties also discussed strategies aiming to strengthen cooperation in the education sector.


The working group from Forum Macao and representatives from São Tomé and Príncipe expressed their viewpoints on the preparation work for several upcoming events: the 14th Business Meeting between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries, taking place in July 2019; and the6th Ministerial Conference of Forum Macao, due to take place in 2020. The delegation from Forum Macao additionally visited the second phase of a Chinese-backed agricultural project.


During the Cabo Verde leg of the trip, the delegation called on Cabo Verde’s National Director for Foreign Policy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Communities, Mr Júlio Morais; the President of Cabo Verde TradeInvest, Ms Ana Barber; and the Minister of Industry, Trade and Energy, Mr Alexandre Dias Monteiro. The delegation also had a meeting with the representatives from the Cabo Verde-China Friendship Association and the Chinese Embassy in Cabo Verde.


During the delegation’s discussions with Cabo Verde officials, the two sides exchanged views on cooperation regarding the fields of tourism, energy, and the role of maritime special economic zones, in relation to the “Belt and Road” initiative, and Macao’s role as a service platform. The aim was to foster Chinese investment in Cabo Verde’s products and services and to ensure information about such goods was disseminated within China. Both sides exchanged views on the preparation work for the 6thMinisterial Conference of Forum Macao. They agreed to pursue a closer economic and trade relationship between China and Cabo Verde, and boost the development of Forum Macao and of Macao itself.


In addition, the delegation visited the construction site of the Gamboa Djéu Resort in the city of Praia. The work has been contracted to Beijing Construction Engineering Group, with investment from Macau Legend Development Ltd. The delegation also visited a Chinese-backed project for the new campus at the University of Cabo Verde. China’s LongXin Group is the construction company involved.


During the Portugal leg of the tour, the delegation took part in a meeting with the Deputy Executive of AICEP Portugal Global – Trade & Investment Agency, Mr António Carlos Silva, and the Director-General of Economic Activities of the Ministry of Economy, Ms Fernanda Ferreira Dias. They discussed issues such as the implementation of matters raised at the 5th Ministerial Conference of Forum Macao; the preparations for the 6th Ministerial Conference of Forum Macao; and the strategy for building close cooperation between China and Portugal in economic and trade matters, within the framework of Forum Macao.


They also took the opportunity to discuss a number of other issues. They were: the outlook for the China International Import Expo (CIIE); the cooperation in the tourism sector; and ways of strengthening cooperation in the field of food safety, inspection and quarantine. Both sides expressed their heartfelt appreciation for the economic and trade relationship between China and Portugal, as well as the significant contribution of Forum Macao in that regard, and the role of Macao as a service platform. Forum Macao and Macao itself could boost development of the economic and trade relationship between China and Portugal.