A Delegation 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, visited Beijing between February 26 and March 1. While in Beijing the Delegation, led by the Secretary-General of Forum Macao, Ms Xu Yingzhen, met with the Ambassadors to China of, respectively, Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Portugal and East Timor. The programme for the delegation’s visit to Beijing also included visits to the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China and to the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT).

Speaking on behalf of the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao, Ms Xu expressed her gratitude for the support given over the years to Forum Macao by the respective Ambassadors to China of the Portuguese-speaking Countries, the Ministry of Commerce of the PRC, and other entities. The Secretary-General gave a presentation about the main activities pursued by the Permanent Secretariat last year, including the achievements of the 5th Ministerial Conference of Forum Macao. Ms Xu also introduced the Permanent Secretariat’s programme for the current year.

During the visit to Beijing, participants exchanged views on the follow-up work generated from the Ministerial Conference, including that concerning: the ‘Strategic Plan for Economic and Trade Co-operation’; the ‘Memorandum of Understanding on Promoting Co-operation in Production Capacity’; and the 18 measures announced by the Government of China. Ms Xu said the new ‘Strategic Plan for Economic and Trade Co-operation’ took into account the “Belt and Road” initiative, offering a wider series of areas for co-operation, and elevating the level of such co-operation. The new ‘Memorandum of Understanding on Promoting Co-operation in Production Capacity’ establishes the main goals for co-operation on production capacity between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries.

The next step will be strengthening co-operation with Portuguese-speaking Countries, applying the principles of “Uniting Efforts towards Co-operation”; “Building the Platform Together”; and “Sharing the Benefits of Development”. Such outcomes may be achieved by actively promoting the implementation of the Ministerial Conference’s recommendations. Support for such action has also come via the “Strategic Plan for Economic and Trade Co-operation” signed at the 5th Ministerial Conference of Forum Macao.

Forum Macao seeks to continue to strengthen the role of Macao as a platform; to deepen bilateral and multilateral economic and trade relations; and promote exchange and co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries.

The Ambassadors to China of the respective Portuguese-speaking Countries, praised the success of the economic and trade co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries, hailing the results achieved by Forum Macao in the past 14 years. They also stressed the importance of Forum Macao and expressed their willingness better to use and support Macao as a platform between the two sides. They also reiterated their full support for the Permanent Secretariat, especially in the implementation of the works and measures resulting from the 5th Ministerial Conference of Forum Macao.

Several other representatives took part in the Delegation of the Permanent Secretariat, including: the Deputy Secretary-General, appointed by the People’s Republic of China, Mr Ding Tian; the Deputy Secretary-General, appointed by the Portuguese-speaking Countries, Mr Vicente de Jesus Manuel; the Deputy Secretary-General, appointed by the Macao Special Administrative Region, Ms Echo Chan; the Coordinator of the Liaison Office and Representative of Guinea-Bissau in the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao, Mr Malam Becker Camará; the Representative of Angola in the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao, Mr Belarmino Barbosa; the Representative of Cape Verde in the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao, Mr Mário Vicente; the Representative of Portugal, Ms Maria João Bonifácio; the Representative of East Timor in the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao, Mr Danilo Henriques; and the Advisor of the Executive Office of the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao, Mr Niu Huifeng.