The 14th Cultural Week of China and Portuguese-speaking Countries, organized by the Permanent Secretariat of Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Macao), is to start on November 18. There will be a mix of online and offline activities during this year’s Cultural Week to present the traditional cultures of the participating countries, including China (Zhejiang Province), Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Portugal, São Tomé and Príncipe, and Timor-Leste.

Online activities will be launched at the opening ceremony on November 18, showcasing the traditional cultures of China and Portuguese-speaking countries, including the traditional opera “The Butterfly Lovers” and umbrella acrobatics of China, the coming-of-age ceremony and mask dance of southern Angola, folk festivities across Brazil, the Baía das Gatas Music Festival on Cape Verde’s São Vicente Island, the featured carnival and float parade of Guinea-Bissau, mbira and batik technique demonstrations of Mozambique, distinctive performances of university orchestras from Portugal, folk festivities commemorating the saints of São Tomé and Príncipe, and a display of Timor-Leste’s traditional techniques of salt production. The public is welcome to enjoy these activities at https://semanacultural.forumchinaplp.org.mo.

In-person activities will take place at Macau Fisherman’s Wharf for three consecutive days from November 18 to 20. Chinese craftsmen will present distinctive handicraft techniques of palm weaving, shadow plays, sugar paintings, and dough sculptures. Associations of Portuguese-speaking countries in Macao will put on enthusiastic singing and dancing performances by art troupes and chefs from Portuguese-speaking countries will cook delicacies of the countries on-site. Booths will also be set up for cultural workshops and traditional games. This year’s Cultural Week will collaborate with the event “Let’s Hang Out” for the first time to hold the “Lusophone and Macao Products Bazaar”. In addition, the 2nd “Lusophone Polychromes” exhibition series will be held at the Lisbon Buildings of Macau Fisherman’s Wharf from November 18 to December 11, exhibiting paintings, sculptures, and photographs by Don Sebas Cassule from Angola, Luciano Dremher from Brazil, Leomar from Cape Verde, Lemos Djata from Guinea-Bissau, Walter Zandamela from Mozambique, Maria Leal da Costa from Portugal, Olavo Amado from São Tomé and Príncipe, photographer Jafet Potenzo Lopes from Timor-Leste, and well-known artist Lio Man Cheong from Macao.

The Cultural Week is expected to become a transcultural platform between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, in an effort to allow the public to explore the national characteristics among continents, promote friendship between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, establish stronger people-to-people ties, and further enhance cultural exchanges and cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries.

The 14th Cultural Week is organized by the Permanent Secretariat of Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Macao) and coordinated by the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute and the Macao Government Tourism Office. The supporting units include Associação Angola Macau, Associação Casa do Brasil em Macau, Macau – Cabo Verde Friendship Association, Association of the Guineans, Natural and Friends of the Guinea-Bissau, Associação dos Amigos de Moçambique, Casa de Portugal em Macau, Association of Saotomeans and Friends of Sao Tome & Principe, Macau-China, Association Friendship Macau-Timor, Associação dos Macaenses, and Macau Fisherman’s Wharf. The media partners are TDM-Teledifusão de Macau, S.A. and Macau Cable TV.