From July 29 to 31, 2024, a delegation led by Mr. Ji Xianzheng, Secretary-General of the Permanent Secretariat of the Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Macao) (Forum Macao), visited Portugal. While in Portugal, the delegation met with Mr. Zhao Bentang, Chinese Ambassador to Portugal; Mr. Nuno Sampaio, Portuguese Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation; Ms. Joana Gaspar, Executive Board Member of the Portuguese Trade & Investment Agency; Ms. Marta Lima Basto, Deputy Director of the Directorate General of Economic Activities, Ministry of Economy; and Ms. Marisa Lameiras da Silva, Director of the Directorate General for Maritime Policy, Ministry of Economy. The Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao hosted a reception during the visit, and the delegation also visited the development zones in Sines and Oeiras.

During the meeting with the Portuguese officials, Secretary-General Ji expressed his gratitude to the Portuguese departments for their long-standing support for Forum Macao. He provided an update on the Strategic Plan for Economic and Trade Co-operation signed at the 6th Ministerial Conference and the results and progress of China’s initiatives. Mr. Ji reaffirmed the Permanent Secretariat’s commitment to the principles of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, and pledged to continue leveraging Macao’s role as a platform between China and Portuguese-speaking countries in the implementation of the Strategic Plan in close collaboration with the Portuguese authorities.

Portuguese government officials acknowledged the role of Forum Macao and the many achievements made during the 6th Ministerial Conference. They also expressed their willingness to expand the scale of trade with China and attract more investment from Chinese enterprises to Portugal through the cooperation and exchange platform provided by Forum Macao, in order to deepen their exchanges and cooperation with mainland China and Macao in areas such as maritime economy, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and innovation and entrepreneurship.

On July 29, the Permanent Secretariat hosted a reception in Lisbon at which Secretary-General Ji delivered a welcome speech, followed by addresses by Mr. João Rui Ferreira, Portuguese Secretary of State for Economy, and Mr. Zhao Bentang, Chinese Ambassador to Portugal. Mr. Zacarias da Costa, Executive Secretary of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries, also attended the event. The head of the China-Portuguese Speaking Countries Cooperation and Development Fund made a thematic presentation at the reception, which was attended by around 100 representatives from various sectors in China and Portugal.

During their stay in Portugal, the delegation also paid a visit to the development zone in Sines, an important port city for container shipping and energy transportation in Portugal. They were briefed on the planning of the industrial and logistics zone and the development of key enterprises in logistics, digitalization and energy technology, and had a discussion with China Aviation Lithium Battery, which plans to invest in a construction project to build a lithium battery production base in the zone.

Oeiras, a model city for technological innovation in Portugal, is home to numerous industrial parks. During the exchange with the Oeiras Valley Investment Agency, the delegation learned about the achievements in economic and trade investment, technological innovation, and SMEs in Oeiras. They also discussed the utilization of Macao’s role as a platform between China and Portuguese-speaking countries and the new opportunities brought about by the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin to drive cooperation between high-tech enterprises in China and Portugal with the heads of the parks and representatives of China State Construction Engineering Corporation, which does business in the area.

Mr. Danilo Afonso Henriques and Mr. Casimiro de Jesus Pinto, Deputy Secretaries-General, Ms. Li Xiaohui, Coordinator of the Executive Office, Ms. Márcia Cordeiro Guerreiro, Representative of Portugal, Ms. Li Jiabei, Advisor of the Executive Office, and representatives of the Ministry of Commerce of China and mainland Chinese enterprises participated in the activities.