The closing ceremony of the Transportation and Communication Infrastructure Conference for Portuguese-speaking Countries was held on June 8, 2015. The venue for the ceremony was the Multifunctional Room (A1) of the Permanent Secretariat of the Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Macao).

The Conference programme, organised by the Training Centre of Forum Macao and conducted by the University of Macau, took place in Macao and Guangzhou.

Dignitaries that attended the closing ceremony included: the Secretary-General of the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao, Mr Chang Hexi; the Director General of the Trade Office of the Economic Affairs Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao SAR, Ms Chen Xing; the Director General of the Policy Research Department of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the Macao SAR, Ms Liu Yu; the Consul General of the Republic of Mozambique to Macao, Mr Rafael Custódio Marques; the Honorary Consul of Cape Verde to Macao, Mr David Chow Kam Fai; the Deputy Secretary-General (appointed by Portuguese-speaking Countries) of the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao, Mr Vicente de Jesus Manuel; the Deputy Secretary-General (appointed by the Macao SAR Government) of the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao, Ms Echo Chan; the representative of the University of Macau, Faculty of Science and Technology, Prof. Kou Kun Pang; the head of the conference, Ms Patricia Alexandra Oliveira de Almeida e Silva; and delegates of the Portuguese-speaking Countries at the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao.

The Secretary-General of the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao, Mr Chang Hexi; the representative of the University of Macau, Prof. Kou Kun Pang; and the head of the conference, Ms Patricia Alexandra Oliveira de Almeida e Silva, made brief speeches before the delivery of certificates to the participants.

This Conference was planned taking into consideration the specific needs of Portuguese-speaking Countries. A total of 23 technicians attended the Conference. They came from six Portuguese-speaking Countries: Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Portugal and East Timor.

From May 25 to June 8, participants attended several thematic lectures related to transportation and communication infrastructure, complemented by field trips and exchange sessions in Macao and Guangzhou.

They were also able to participate in the 6th International Infrastructure Investment and Construction Forum and the Ministerial Meeting on Infrastructure between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries.

The topics covered in Macao included: Macao’s role as a platform between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries; intelligent transportation systems and their development; traffic in Macao and its challenges; television and radio broadcasting: technology standards and application of innovations in the new century; as well as wireless mobile communication technology and its development in Macao.

Sessions available for participants during the 6th International Infrastructure Investment and Construction Forum programme, included: the 1st Co-operation Forum on Infrastructure between China and the CELAC (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States); ‘One Belt, One Road’ – A New Era for Regional Co-operation in Infrastructure; ‘One Belt, One Road’ – Regional Co-operation for Infrastructure Projects; Opportunities and Challenges for Investment in Regional Large Scale Projects; Innovative Financing Methods and Multilateral Co-operation for Financing Cross-Border Infrastructure Projects; Presentation and Exchange Sessions on Plans and Infrastructure Projects among members of CELAC; the Market for Building Contractors in China; and the 1st Ministerial Meeting on Infrastructure between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries.

During the participants’ stay in Macao, there were also visits to public services and institutions, such as: the Macau Laboratory of Civil Engineering; the Administration of Airports; the Land, Public Works and Transport Bureau; the Communications Museum; the Bureau of Telecommunications Regulation; the Infrastructure Development Office; the Transportation Infrastructure Office; the Macau Institution of Engineers; and also the Institute for the Development and Quality of Macau.

With the support of the Macao Government Tourist Office, participants also had the opportunity to visit Macao’s UNESCO World Heritage sites and other tourist facilities.

In Guangzhou, the topics focused on the development of the city of Guangzhou, its traffic and public transport networks. Participants also had the opportunity to visit the headquarters of the Guangzhou Metro Corp and the Command and Control Centre of the Bus Rapid Transit system for Zhongshan Avenue.

The conference and the other complementary activities sought to consolidate the exchanges between Portuguese-speaking Countries and Mainland China and Macao in the fields of management of transport and communication infrastructure.

It also aimed to strengthen participants’ understanding of the role of Macao as a service platform between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries, and to help raise the level of management skills among trainees in the context of transport and communication infrastructure.

The initiative also promoted the exchange and co-operation between public and private entities from Portuguese-speaking Countries and from Mainland China and Macao. It is a practical application of Forum Macao’s role in strengthening regional and international collaboration in the fields of education and training. That in turn enhances the role of Macao as a service platform between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries.