The 10th International Infrastructure Investment and Construction Forum, held at the Venetian Macao’s convention and exhibition centre, featured on May 31 a parallel session on “Maximizing the Role of Finance in Promoting Practical Cooperation between China and Portuguese-Speaking Countries – Focusing on Project Investment and Financing, Sharing Successful Experience and Exploring Cooperation Mode”.

The parallel session was organised by the Permanent Secretariat of Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Macao), with the support of the China International Contractors Association, the Monetary Authority of Macao, and the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute.

In recent years, collaboration between China and the Portuguese-speaking Countries in the fields of energy, transportation and agriculture has prompted a deepening of cooperation on infrastructure construction. The successful completion of several cooperation projects in these fields provides a sound foundation for broader cooperation between the two sides.

Financial integration is an indispensable condition for cooperation on building of infrastructure. As a consequence, the parallel session hosted by the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao featured representatives from, respectively, financial institutions, investment funds, other bodies linked to the financial sector, and officials from governmental authorities in Mainland China, Macao and Portuguese-speaking Countries. Also in attendance at the parallel session were the participants in the Workshop on Finance Cooperation for Portuguese-speaking Countries, a separate initiative organised by Forum Macao’s Training Centre.

During the parallel session, participants discussed a number of topics, including project investment and financing. They also shared experiences regarding successful sourcing of capital for project investment and project financing. The aim was to identify any common elements to success from among such case studies.

In his welcoming speech at the event, Deputy Secretary-General of the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao Mr Ding Tian said Macao’s mission to promote economic and trade cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries had been broadened, as part of the “Belt and Road” initiative and as a result also of the Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. The Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao would continue to make good use of the International Infrastructure Investment and Construction Forum as an exchange platform to generate further favourable conditions for collaboration between China and the Portuguese-speaking Countries, while contributing to Macao’s economic diversification and position as a cooperation platform.

Macao has been actively pursuing efforts to establish itself as a financial service platform serving China and the Portuguese-speaking Countries, focusing on the development of financial services with unique features, including renminbi settlement, leasing, and wealth management.

The parallel session at the International Infrastructure Investment and Construction Forum was aimed at making the most – within the framework of the “Belt and Road” initiative – of the unique advantages Macao could offer in terms of financial services. Such effort would be closely linked to Macao’s positioning as a cooperation platform between China and the Portuguese-speaking Countries, and would further promote exchanges and cooperation between Mainland China, Macao and Portuguese-speaking Countries.