Participants in the “Ministerial Seminar on Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries” visited Macao between November 18 and 20. It followed an invitation from 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 aim was to provide visits and exchange sessions that would allow participants to learn more about the Macao’s economic and social development, as well as to improve their knowledge regarding the territory’s role as a services platform for economic and trade co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries. Additionally, the visit aimed to enhance economic and trade co-operation exchanges between Portuguese-speaking Countries, Mainland China and Macao, and to promote further regional economic co-operation.

China’s Ministry of Commerce organised the Seminar, which was conducted by the Academy for International Business Officials (AIBO). A total of 22 officials from Portuguese-speaking Countries – including Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Portugal and East Timor – were invited on the visit to Mainland China. The programme for the whole seminar ran from November 11 to 20.

During the Macao leg of the trip, participants in the Seminar visited the Macao Economic Services, the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM), the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao, the Bank of China Macau Branch and the Macao Chamber of Commerce. They also visited some of Macao’s World Heritage sites.

The Vice-President of AIBO, Mr Zou Chuanming, and the Secretary-General of the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao, Mr Chang Hexi, accompanied the delegation during its visit to Macao.