February 21, a delegation of the Permanent Secretariat of the Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Macao), led by Secretary-General Mr Ji Xianzheng, visited Mr Ren Hongbin, Chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT). During the visit, both parties had an in-depth exchange of views on strengthening organizational cooperation and jointly organizing promotional activities on economy and trade between China and Portuguese-speaking countries.

Secretary-General Ji introduced the Permanent Secretariat’s major tasks from last year and the work plan for this year. He said that in 2023 the Permanent Secretariat would spare no efforts to resume its activities and would be committed to promoting trade and investment, cultural exchange, and the construction of Macao as a platform between China and Portuguese-speaking countries. The Permanent Secretariat highly valued its long-term cooperation mechanism with the CCPIT. He hopes that the CCPIT will continue supporting the implementation of the mutual consensus achieved in the Ministerial Conferences of Forum Macao, the organization of activities in celebration of the 20th anniversary of Forum Macao, and visits to Portuguese-speaking countries for the promotion of economic and trade negotiations.

Chairman Ren remarked that President Xi Jinping made a speech through video conferencing at the Conference of the 70th Anniversary of CCPIT and Global Trade and Investment Promotion Summit and that Premier Li Keqiang attended the Symposium on the 70th Anniversary of CCPIT. The CCPIT will take the 70th anniversary as a new starting point for a journey of development. It established an array of organizations at home and abroad, with various activities held annually, and will continue fostering pragmatic cooperation through platforms such as the China-Portuguese-speaking Countries Federation of Entrepreneurs and the Entrepreneurs Meeting for Commercial and Economic Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries. The CCPIT will support the measures launched by Macao for its integration into the country’s overall national development plan and the city’s development of adequate economic diversification. This year, CCPIT will organize the first Industrial and Commercial Development Conference of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area in Macao to push forward the construction of the Greater Bay Area and constantly leverage the advantages of Macao’s Co-operation Platform between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, thereby bringing the cooperation among mainland China, Macao and Portuguese-speaking countries in different areas to a new level.