This Issue’s Topical Story

15^th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Macao)

Due to historical reasons, Macao assumes the role of Commercial and Trade Co-operation Service Platform between China and the Portuguese-speaking Countries. At the initiative of the Central Government of the People’s Republic of China, the Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (hereafter referred to as “Forum Macao”) was for the first time held in Macao in October 2003. To date, five editions of Ministerial Conference of Forum Macao were successfully held. Throughout these fifteen years, the Macao SAR Government has been actively contributing for the implementation of the objectives set out in the action plans outlined in the five Ministerial Conferences of Forum Macao, while striving to enhance Macao’s strengths in the fields of language, culture, information and services, in pursuance of its role as a bridge between China and the Portuguese-speaking Countries.

Pragmatic progress achieved in the construction of the Sino-Lusophone Platform

The territories of China and Portuguese-speaking Countries are spread accross four continents, namely Asia, Africa, Europe and Latin America, with a population above 1.6 billion corresponding to 20% of the world’s total population and bilateral trade accounting for 17.5% of the global GDP. China and the Portuguese-speaking Countries are rich in resources and each country has their own strengths, highlighting strong multilateral complementarities and vast co-operation perspectives. Data show that China is currently the largest trading partner of the Portuguese-speaking Countries. In 2002, before the establishment of the Forum Macao, trade between China and the Portuguese-speaking Countries was approximately USD 6 billion, while in 2017 bilateral trade has already reached USD 117.6 billion, an increase of nearly 20 times. China’s direct investment in the Portuguese-speaking Countries, which was USD 56 million in 2003, surged hundredfold to USD56.99 billion in 2016.

Under the framework of the Macao Forum, construction of the Sino-Lusophone Platform in Macao is accelerating. In this connection, the Commission for the Development of the Service Platform for Commercial and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries was formed in 2016. The “Three Centres”, namely the “Commercial and Trade Service Centre for SMEs in Portuguese-speaking Countries”, the “Convention and Exhibition Centre for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries” and the “Food Products Distribution Centre for Portuguese-speaking Countries” have achieved progress. These centres, along with the Economic & Trade Co-operation and Human Resources Portal between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries, develop their synergistic effect both online and offline. The headquarters of the China-Portuguese-speaking Co-operation and Development Fund has already moved to Macao. Works related to the development of featured finance have already started. The construction of the financial services platform for co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries and RMB clearing services for Portuguese-speaking Countries are progressing in an orderly manner. The China-Portuguese-speaking Countries Federation of Entrepreneurs, the China-PSC Trade and Service Complex and the Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurship Centre for Young Entrepreneurs in China and Portuguese-speaking Countries have been officially established and started operation. In the meantime, setting-up of the China-Portuguese Bilingual Personnel Training Base and other measures are accelerating.

Seminar on Infrastructure Construction between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries

A photographic exhibition chronicling Forum Macao was held in Lisbon in June this year

Construction of the Sino-Lusophone Platform brings opportunities for enterprises from Mainland China, Macao and Portuguese-speaking Countries

Macao develops its own strengths to promote Sino-Lusophone co-operation

Thanks to its free and open business environment, coupled with close ties with the Portuguese-speaking Countries, in spite of its compact dimension, Macao offers different advantages, such as Sino-Lusophone cultural integration, adoption of Chinese and Portuguese as official languages, while being also the focal point for bilingual talents in Chinese and Portuguese, business associations and representatives of Portuguese-speaking Countries. Companies incorporated in Macao not only benefit from the city’s status as a free port, autonomous customs territory, and low taxation, but can also enjoy professional intermediary services and the latest information about Portuguese-speaking Countries. All these factors will help entrepreneurs to “go global” to Portuguese-speaking Countries.

In the process of building the Sino-Lusophone Platform, Macao provides vast business opportunities for companies from Mainland China, Macao and Portuguese-speaking Countries. Companies, especially those engaged in trade in goods, trade in services and overseas investment should grasp the opportunities brought about by the Sino-Lusophone Platform.

In line with the needs of our country, while participating in the “Belt and Road” Initiative and the construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Macao relies on its advantageous location as the permanent venue for Forum Macao and the Permanent Secretariat of the Forum to continuously deepen economic and trade co-operation between China and the Portuguese-speaking Countries, as well as other countries along the “Belt and Road”.

Opening ceremony of the Cultural Forum between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries

The headquarter of the China-Portuguese-speaking Cooperation and Development Fund has moved to Macao

The Seminar on the 15th Anniversary of Forum Macao and Positioning of Macao as a Platform between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries was held in Macao