In order to carry out the “Strategic Plan for Economic and Trade Co-operation” – and acting on a memorandum of understanding issued at the 5th Ministerial Conference of Forum Macao in relation to boosting cooperation on production capacity – a delegation led by Mr Ding Tian, Deputy Secretary-General of the Permanent Secretariat of the Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Macao) is visiting Mozambique, Angola, Portugal and São Tomé and Príncipe from November 4 to 17.

The delegation scheduled meetings with those officials from the respective countries that are in charge of liaising with Forum Macao. The delegation also met with local investment promotion agencies to investigate opportunities for cooperation projects.

The Permanent Secretariat delegation started its tour on November 5, with a first stop in Mozambique. The visit is to strengthen the links between the Permanent Secretariat and the Mozambican authorities overseeing matters related with Forum Macao, as well as to exchange views on the preparation of the 6th Ministerial Conference of Forum Macao. During the visit to Mozambique, the delegation met: Mr Ragendra de Sousa and Mr Júlio João Pio, respectively Minister and Vice-Minister of Industry and Commerce of the Republic of Mozambique; Mr José Pacheco, Mozambican Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation; and Mr Su Jian, Chinese Ambassador to Mozambique. The delegation communicated current working situations with heads of those departments of the Mozambican government dealing with Forum Macao affairs.

During the meetings, Forum Macao’s Mr Ding provided a brief introduction about the achievements of Forum Macao over the past 15 years. He mentioned external assessment and other related work of the Permanent Secretariat, indicating the continual input of effort from that body in order to promote further exchange and communication between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries and to work in broadening areas of cooperation with Mozambique through the Macao platform, thereby to achieve notable results.

The Mozambican government departments in question noted they highly value Forum Macao’s achievements and Macao’s platform role, and said they would continue to take part in, and provide support for, Forum Macao’s work. Mozambique’s Minister of Industry and Commerce Mr de Sousa said that China and Mozambique had strong complementarity in agriculture, while in the tourism and industry sectors Mozambique was developing and had great potential. With support from Forum Macao’s platform, Mr de Sousa hoped further to deepen cooperation between the two countries.

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Mr José Pacheco said he wished to see further fruitful results via promotion of the relationship and cooperation with Forum Macao. In the meeting with Chinese Ambassador to Mozambique Mr Su Jian, both parties exchanged views on the coming edition of the Ministerial Conference of Forum Macao, as well as the work plan of the Forum Macao Secretariat and the “Strategic Plan for Economic and Trade Co-operation”.

During the visit to Mozambique, a seminar – presided over by Deputy Director of the Foreign Affairs and the Directorate for Asia and Oceania Mr Isac Mamudo Massambi – was held, during which the delegation and those representatives of the Mozambique government dealing with Forum Macao affairs had appropriate communication on areas of mutual concern. Mozambican officials also expressed expectation that Forum Macao would facilitate cooperation between firms of the two countries and would help create more opportunities for business. The delegation also visited Maputo-Katembe Bridge, the longest suspension bridge in Africa, which was constructed by a Chinese firm.

The delegation headed to Angola on November 7 to continue its tour following the stop in Mozambique.