A delegation representing the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao visited on May 24 the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the Macao Special Administrative Region, for discussions themed on the “Belt and Road” initiative. Mr Ding Tian and Mr Rodrigo Brum, Deputy Secretaries-General of the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao, and the eight Representatives from the Portuguese-speaking Countries in the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao, took part in the event.

Both sides reviewed the development of relations between China and the Portuguese-speaking Countries, and the progress of cooperation under the framework of the “Belt and Road” initiative. Ms Shen Beili, Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in Macao, discussed the achievements of the People’s Republic of China in the 70 years since its establishment, and presented Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy. Ms Shen pointed out that the “Belt and Road” initiative was not only an important part of Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy, but also a major initiative to promote global development.

China and the eight Portuguese-speaking Countries encompass parts of Asia, Africa, Europe and South America, and boast an aggregate population of over 1.6 billion, or nearly a quarter of the global population, Ms Shen noted. She added such a tally of people provided huge potential in terms of avenues for cooperation. She hoped the Office of the Commissioner and the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao could continue to maintain frequent contact, working together to promote Macao’s role as a cooperation platform, as well as furthering collaboration between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries, namely under the framework of the “Belt and Road” initiative, in order to achieve mutual development for all sides.

Deputy Secretary-General Ding said that, since the establishment of Forum Macao, the Permanent Secretariat had launched a series of activities that had benefitted from the support respectively of China’s Central Government; the national governments of the Portuguese-speaking countries; and the collaboration of the Macao SAR Government. He added that, via international cooperation, the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao had either organised, co-organised or supported a series of commercial and trade exchange events. It had also either put together or taken part in various trade shows. That was in order to serve as a bridge for cooperation and exchanges between businesses from Mainland China, Macao and Portuguese-speaking countries, he said.

Over the past two years, the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs – whether Ms Shen or her predecessor – had visited the facilities of the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao. Mr Ding said this highlighted the support of the Office of the Commissioner regarding the work carried by the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao. The Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao would continue to cooperate with the Office of Commissioner in order to: further the bridging role of Forum Macao; and promote commercial and trade exchanges between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries. This would facilitate cooperation between China and the Portuguese-speaking Countries under the framework of the “Belt and Road” initiative.

During their respective speeches, the Representatives from the Portuguese-speaking Countries at the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao warmly hailed the successful implementation of the “One Country, Two Systems” in Macao, while also pledging support to the “One-China Policy”. Each Representative delivered a presentation on the relations between their home country and China, and their country’s commercial and trade exchanges with the Macao SAR.

The delegates also voiced their views and suggestions regarding various topics, namely: the deepening of international cooperation under the “Belt and Road” initiative; Macao’s integration in the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area; the further development of the role of Forum Macao; and the positioning of Macao as a Commercial and Trade Cooperation Service Platform between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries.