Ministerial-level officials from China and seven Portuguese-speaking countries signed the Action Plan for Economic and Trade Cooperation Monday at a forum in the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR).  

The action plan is the framework document to facilitate trade between China and the Portuguese-speaking countries of Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea Bissau, Mozambique, Portugal and East Timor.

The action plan inked at the Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-Speaking Countries ensures the commitment for further inter-governmental trade and investment cooperation and the prioritized cooperation given to agriculture, fishing, engineering and infrastructure construction as well as natural and human resources among member countries.

The action plan is regarded as the guideline for a new round of facilitated trade between China and Portuguese-speaking countries on a basis of equality and mutual trust, said Chinese Vice Minister of Commerce An Min at the signing ceremony.

According to the agreement, China and Portuguese-Speaking Countries Economic Cooperation Forum Organizing Office composed of officials from the Ministry of Commerce and the Macao SAR government remains as a permanent office overseeing the implementation of the action plan. The office will work under the Macao Secretariat of Economy and Finance, and the next forum is set for the year 2006 in Macao.

(Xinhua News Agency October 13, 2003)