The three-day 6^th Ministerial Conference of the Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries, aka Forum Macao, concluded yesterday when an entrepreneurs’ conference was held, during which Vice Minister of Commerce Guo Tingting said in her opening speech that China will deepen cooperation with the Portuguese-speaking countries (PSCs) in marine renewable energy and the protection of marine resources.

Yesterday’s entrepreneurs’ conference, which was held at Forum Macao’s headquarters located near Macau Tower in Sai Van, was attended by about 700 representatives from government entities, trade promotion agencies, chambers of commerce, enterprises from the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong Macau and the nine PSCs, according to a statement by the Macau Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM).

In her speech in the morning, Guo underlined that the Ministry of Commerce is willing to work with its counterparts in the PSCs with the aim of continuing to give full play to Forum Macao’s role, ensuring the continuously successful operation of Macau as a business service platform for China and the PSCs, and creating a better environment for businesses’ cooperation.

Guo called on all parties to reach consensus and jointly promote the high-quality and sustainable development of economic and trade cooperation between China and the PSCs.

Bright cooperation prospects

Guo underlined the need for China and the PSCs to deepen trade and investment cooperation and industrial cooperation based on collaboration between enterprises. She noted that China has complementary industrial advantages with the PSCs, because of which there are bright prospects for cooperation between the two sides.

Guo also pledged that China will strongly support enterprises from the PSCs in participating in major exhibitions, as well as the organisation of important economic and trade promotion activities.

China will continuously increase the scale and quality of trade with the PSCs as well as promote the establishment of new economic and trade cooperation zones, Guo said.

In addition, the vice minister also said that China will promote the establishment of a blue economy partnership with the PSCs, as well as deepen cooperation and exchanges in marine renewable energy, protection of marine resources and their sustainable use.

China will also strengthen cooperation with the PSCs in e-commerce, Guo said.

Moreover, Guo said that the rapid development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area (GBA) and the Guangdong-Macau In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin will bring more opportunities to economic and trade cooperation between China and the PSCs.

The central government will continue to support Macau in continuing to give full play to its role as a bridge between China and the PSCs, adding that China is eager to see enterprises invest through Macau’s business service platform, with the aim of achieving common development.

Forum Macao comprises China, its initiator and prime mover, and nine Portuguese-speaking countries – Angola, Brazil, Cabo Verde (Cape Verde), Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Mozambique, Portugal, São Tomé and Príncipe, and Timor-Leste (East Timor).

Functions of Macau’s platform expanding: Lei

Also delivering an opening speech during yesterday’s entrepreneurs’ conference, Macau Secretary for Economy and Finance Lei Wai Nong pledged that Macau will continue to give full play to its unique advantages in linking up China and the PSCs.

With the new opportunities brought by China’s current development in new quality productive forces and expanding high-level opening-up, Lei said, yesterday’s entrepreneurs’ conference focused on two major themes, namely digital transformation and green development.

Lei underlined that the central government’s various measures supporting Macau in developing itself into a platform between China and the PSCs have been effectively implemented.

The policy secretary stressed that the functions of Macau’s platform between China and the PSCs have continuously been expanding. As a service platform centred on economic and trade cooperation, Lei said, Macau’s platform has been of service to cooperation between China and the PSCs in more and more fields.

In addition, Lei said that Macau’s ongoing economic diversification campaign will create more development opportunities for enterprises from China and the PSCs, adding that the ongoing development of the Guangdong-Macau In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin is also creating business opportunities for them.

Due to the three-year COVID-19 pandemic and schedule issues, Forum Macao’s previous Ministerial Conference, supposed to be held every three years, took place in Macau back in October 2016.

In addition to seminars centred on the two themes of digital transformation and green development, yesterday’s entrepreneurs’ conference also included business-matching sessions and the signing of 15 projects, according to the Macau Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM).

Vice Minister of Commerce Guo Tingting delivers an opening speech during yesterday’s entrepreneurs’ conference, the last day of the three-day 6th Ministerial Conference of Forum Macao, at its headquarters in Sai Van. – Photo:TDM

Macau Secretary for Economy and Finance Lei Wai Nong delivers a speech during Forum Macao’s entrepreneurs’ conference yesterday. – Photo: GCS