The 11th Ordinary Meeting of the Permanent Secretariat of the Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Macao) took place in Macao on March 30, 2016.

The meeting was attended by representatives from the Ministry of Commerce of China and the Economic Affairs Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in Macao; by the Ambassadors to Beijing of Portuguese-speaking Countries; by the Focal Points of the Portuguese-speaking Countries; by the members of the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao; and by representatives from the Macao SAR Government.

During the meeting, members from the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao gave a presentation on the work done in 2015. Additionally, the plan of activities for 2016 was approved. Representatives attending the meeting also discussed matters related to preparations for the 5th Ministerial Conference of Forum Macao.

The work report for 2015 mentioned that – with the support of the Participating Countries in Forum Macao and the Macao SAR Government – the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao had selected as its main task for 2015 the implementation of the ‘Eight New Measures’ announced at the 4th Ministerial Conference of Forum Macao (2014-2016).

The report also mentioned that in 2015, the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao actively engaged in trade and investment promotion, human resource co-operation and in the promotion of Macao’s platform role, therefore fully achieving the goals set for 2015.

Regarding trade and investment promotion, the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao organised and participated in around 30 activities – covering several fields from economy to trade – in Mainland China, Portuguese-speaking countries and Macao. The activities included: the Roundtable Meeting between leaders of Provinces and Municipalities of China and Portuguese-speaking Countries; the Exchange Session between Portuguese-speaking Countries and Macao’s Entrepreneurs; the China and Portuguese-speaking Countries’ Young Entrepreneurs Forum; the High-Level Seminar of Tourism and MICE between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries; the Ministerial Meeting on Infrastructure between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries; the 5th Summit for Commercial and Industrial Development of Jiangsu, Macao and Portuguese-speaking Countries; as well as several presentation sessions and workshops about the markets of Portuguese-speaking Countries.

In 2015 the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao also organised visits to Changsha, Nanchang, Taiyuan, Chingyuan, Zhongshan and Hengqin. It also joined several trade shows and similar events as an exhibitor and organised several promotional presentation sessions.

Through these events, the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao was able to promote the advantages of Macao’s platform role; outline the investment and business environment in Portuguese-speaking Countries; and to publicise the China and Portuguese-speaking Countries Co-operation and Development Fund.

Regarding human resource co-operation, the Training Centre of Forum Macao in 2015 organised five training seminars in Macao, with a total of 112 participants, including civil servants and professionals from Portuguese-speaking Countries, Mainland China and from the Macao SAR Government.

The seminars for representatives from Portuguese-speaking Countries included: the ‘Workshop on development of small- and medium-sized companies of Portuguese-speaking Countries’; the ‘Workshop on transport and communication infrastructure’; the ‘Workshop on Commercial and International Law’; the ‘Workshop on environmental policy’; and the ‘Workshop on inspection of economic and commercial activities’.

The Training Centre of Forum Macao also organised visits for the participants in the workshops, namely to Guangzhou, Changsha, Taiyuan and Nanchang.

The Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao also took part in several activities held in Macao, including: a ‘Workshop on economic development for authorities from Angola’; and a ‘Workshop on economic and commercial co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries’, both organised by the Academy for International Business Officials of the Ministry of Commerce of China.

The Permanent Secretariat also assisted in arranging internships for representatives from Portuguese-speaking Counties in several departments of the Macao Government.

To promote the role of Macao as a platform and boost exchanges regarding cultural matters, the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao organised the ‘Workshop on Teaching and Training of Bilingual Speakers for China and Portuguese-speaking Countries’, strengthening the co-operation in the training of professionals bilingual in both Chinese and Portuguese.

The Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao also organised the 7th Cultural Week of China and Portuguese Speaking Countries. Several artists from Mainland China, Macao and Portuguese-speaking Countries joined the festival and hosted many high profile art activities, helping to promote closer ties between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries.