Chief Executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR)
government Edmund Ho Ha Wah announced Sunday morning the opening of
the Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and
Portuguese-speaking Countries.
The three-day forum, sponsored by the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, is
the first of its kind held to tighten China's economic and trade
relations with seven Portuguese-speaking countries through the
trade platform of Macao.
Ho said that Macao is honored to be the host of the forum with
the theme of "Structuring the Framework of Economic and Trade
Cooperation and Promoting Mutual Development of China and
Portuguese-speaking Countries". By staging the forum, Macao can
showcase its historical linkage and friendship with
Portuguese-speaking countries, he added.
He pledged that Macao will play an active role of boosting the
economic cooperation and trade between China and
Portuguese-speaking countries.
Seven Portuguese-speaking countries, namely Angola, Brazil, Cape
Verde, Guinea Bissau, Mozambique, Portugal and East Timor, sent
delegations headed by ministerial-level officials responsible for
economic and trade to the forum. Chinese Vice Premier Wu Yi will
meet the officials later in the day.
A framework document on the economic and trade cooperation
between the member countries is expected to be signed during the
forum, which will also dedicate to group sessions on multilateral
trade talks and a business fair for entrepreneurs.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Chinese Vice Minister of
Commerce An Min said that it is a significant event that delegates
representing seven Portuguese-speaking countries from four
continents came to Macao to discuss trade cooperation with China.
China's trade relations with Portuguese-speaking countries, thanks
to the fast growth of trade volume in the recent years, have laid a
great foundation for the building of stronger multilateral
cooperation ties with these countries via the forum, which will
have a broad market prospect.
(Xinhua News Agency October 12, 2003)