A delegation led by Vice-Chairman of the Henan Provincial Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), Mr Qian Guoyu, visited the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao on February 28 and was received by Secretary-General Ms Xu Yingzhen and other members of the Secretariat.

The two sides exchanged views on issues of common interest, among which was the promotion of cooperation between Mainland provinces and municipalities; how to provide support in tapping Portuguese-speaking markets; and how to boost business cooperation so as to make full use of Macao as a Commercial and Trade Co-operation Service Platform between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries, and of Forum Macao as a multilateral cooperation mechanism. With these things in mind, a seminar was held between entrepreneurs from Henan Province, Macao, and Portuguese-speaking Countries, at the San Chok Un residence in Macao.

The seminar, between entrepreneurs from Henan Province, Macao, and Portuguese-speaking Countries, was organised by the Henan Provincial People’s Government and co-organised by the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao. Vice-Chairman Qian, Secretary-General Xu, and the Executive Director of the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute Mr Sam Lei, respectively, delivered speeches.

In his speech, Vice-Chairman Qian emphasised that the Macao platform has played an important role as Henan Province’s window to the world, while establishing a vital bridge to Portuguese-speaking markets. He encouraged all three parties to take trade and economic cooperation to a higher level, thus opening up a new chapter in cooperation between Henan Province, Macao, and Portuguese-speaking Countries.

Secretary-General Xu described the seminar as a good start towards a link between Henan Province, Macao, and Portuguese-speaking Countries, via the Commercial and Trade Co-operation Service Platform between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries established in Macao, and within the context of the “Belt and Road” initiative. Forum Macao would – using the city’s platform as a basis – promote economic and trade exchanges between the three stakeholder groups to enable exploration of the markets of Belt and Road countries, thus fulfilling Macao’s key role in boosting cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries.

Ms Xu also expressed the wish that cooperation between Henan Province, Macao and Portuguese-speaking Countries could achieve not only mutual benefit and win-win outcomes in the business sector, but also promote social progress and development.