Features

The 2nd Ministerial Meeting of China-Portuguese-speaking Countries Economic and Trade Co-operation Forum (Macao) will take place in September

China-Portuguese-speaking Coun tries Economic and Trade Co-operation Forum (Macao) (hereinafter referred as to the Forum) hosted by the central government and organised by the Macao SAR government was launched in October 2003. Over the past two years, various members of the Forum have effectively promoted bilat eral economic and trade co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries and utilised and strengthened Macao’s role as a platform according to the Economic and Trade Co-operation Action Plan adopted at the 1st Ministe rial Meeting of the Forum in 2003. As a result, various members are co-oper ating in agriculture, fishery, engineer ing and infrastructure projects as well as in areas such as natural and human resources. Follow-up institutions and mechanisms of the Forum were also set up and put in place.

The 2nd Ministerial Meeting of China-Portuguese-speaking Countries Economic and Trade Co-operation Fo rum (Macao) will be held in Macao in September 2006. The theme of this Meeting is “to deepen co-operation and to achieve common development.” On top of what has already been attained by the Forum, the Ministerial Meeting will continue to adhere to the principles of pragmatism and efficiency, set tar gets and goals for economic and trade co-operation between China and Por tuguese-speaking countries in 2007-2009, fully utilise Macao’s role as a platform, deepen and expand co-opera tion areas so as to push economic and trade collaboration between China and Portuguese-speaking countries to a new level.

Forum promotes economic and trade co-operation in a multi tude of areas

In 2003 when the first Forum took place, the total amount of trade between China and Portuguese-speaking coun tries was US$11.028 billion. It grew to US$18.262 billion in the next year, up 66%. Bilateral trade between Chi na and Portuguese-speaking countries surpassed US$20 billion for the first time in 2005 and reached US$23.19 billion, up 27%. Of that, China’s ex ports to Portuguese-speaking countries were US$6.22 billion and imports were US$16.97 billion.

At the same time two-way invest ment between China and Portuguese-speaking countries also made important headway. By the end of 2005, China’s direct investment in Portuguese-speak ing countries was US$95.15 million. Contractual investment of Brazil and Portugal in China reached US$544 mil lion with US$229 million already paid.

Economic and trade co-opera tion between China and Portuguese-speaking countries has developed in a smooth, pragmatic, efficient way and has achieved remarkable results. Much of the credit for the growth of in co-operation should go to the launching of the Forum and its efforts. The Perma nent Secretariat of the Forum has effec tively instituted a series of follow-ups, hosted or participated in exhibitions, seminars and policy presentations so as to identify co-operation projects for enterprises in China and Portuguese-speaking countries.

Given the rich results of bilateral economic and trade co-operation since the Forum was launched, people are very optimistic about future prospects.

High-level visits between gov ernments promotes bilateral co-operation

The 1st Ministerial Meeting of the Forum reached a consensus on promot ing high-level visits between the Chinese and Portuguese-speaking governments. Since then there have been frequent ex change and more than 30 visits by offi cials of vice-ministerial level and above. Chinese President Hu Jintao, Chairman Jia Qinglin of the National Commit tee of the CPPCC, Premier of the State Council Wen Jiabao and Vice Premiers Zeng Peiyan and Hui Liangyu visited Angola, Brazil and Portugal. Chief Ex ecutive Edmund Ho of Macao SAR vis ited Brazil. President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil, Prime Minister Jose Maria Neves of Cape Verde, President Joaquim Alberto Chissano of Mozam bique, and President Jorge Sampaio of Portugal visited China. These visits have deepened friendly relations be tween China and Portuguese-speaking countries and enhanced co-operation between them in various areas.

Macao’s Role as a Platform in Economic and Trade Co-opera tion between China and Portu guese-speaking Countries

According to the Economic and Trade Co-operation Action Plan adopt ed at the 1st Ministerial Meeting of the Forum, various Forum members have strengthened economic and trade co-operation and investment. Moreover, agriculture and fisheries, construction and infrastructure, natural and human resources co-operation has also been put on the agenda as future priorities.

According to the press conference of the 2nd China-Portuguese-speaking Countries Economic and Trade Co-op eration Forum (Macao) to be held this year, co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries in hu man resource development has been strengthened remarkably since the founding of the Forum. Mainland Chi na has invited government officials and technicians to attend economic man agement training courses, tourism of ficials training courses, media training programmes, nursing technical train ing programmes and agricultural and fisheries technical training programme. Macao SAR has organised a study tour for the above-mentioned officials in Macao. So far close to 600 government officials, management personnel and technicians from Portuguese-speaking countries have visited China for such training programmes. Macao enterpris es have begun to provide a multi-faceted service to Mainland enterprises such as translation, consulting, and representa tion, providing information on relevant projects, market research and introduc ing co-operation partners to help their businesses to grow in Portuguese-speak ing countries.

A number of events will take place during the Forum this year. A key pa per guiding economic and trade co-op eration between China and Portuguese-speaking countries 2007-2009 will be signed. A conference for entrepreneurs from China and Portuguese-speaking countries will gather entrepreneurs from mainland China, Macao SAR and Portuguese-speaking countries to talk about co-operation opportunities. The Forum will also stage a photographic exhibition of its achievements to show what actions have been taken by the Forum and the results. The 11th MIF, which will be held concurrently with the Forum, will once again offer an op portunity for entrepreneurs from across the world to foster co-operation and to explore markets.

China and Portuguese-speaking countries co-operate in exploring markets

Macao and Portuguese-speaking countries have long-standing and close economic and trade ties. In order to help enterprises from the Mainland and Portuguese-speaking countries co-operate with each other using Macao as a platform to pursue business opportunities and develop markets, trade promotion organisations from Macao, the mainland and Portuguese-speaking countries have begin to engage in even closer co-operation in recent years and have co-hosted or participated in a number of economic and trade activities and projects between enterprises.

The 1st Ministerial Meeting of China-Portuguese-speaking Countries Economic and Trade Co-operation Forum was held in Macao in October 2003, which ushered in a new era of closer friendly contacts and deeper economic and trade co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries. Since then, a series of major events organised by governments and entrepreneurs from China and Portuguese-speaking countries such as Maputo International Trade Fair and Economic and Trade Co-operation Seminar have been held and there has been more frequent and diverse visits to the various counties involved. China and Portuguese-speaking countries have seen senior government officials at vice-ministerial level or above paying more frequent visits over the past three years, which has led to deeper co-operation between governments and a new wave of collaboration between enterprises. Economic and trade co-operation between the two sides has also made remarkable and significant headway.

Premier of the State Council of China Wen Jiabao attended the Conference of Entrepreneurs’ from China- Portugal in Lisbon, Portugal on 10 December 2005. In his speech, he said as a bridge connecting China and Portugal and an important platform for friendly co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, Macao SAR would continue to contribute to closer ties between China and Portugal. The establishment of a strategic partnership between China and Portugal would further promote co-operation between Macao and Portugal and its friendly ties with the rest of the world.

IPIM, along with CCPIT, the Chinese Embassy in Portugal and Portuguese Agency for Economic Promotion (ICEP), jointly organised the Seminar and IPIM also arranged for a business delegation from Macao to attend. It was the first time that a business delegation from Macao had participated in economic and trade events during a Chinese Premier’s foreign visit, which can only increase the profile of Macao as an economic and trade co-operation platform between China and Portuguese-speaking countries.

Closer contact and deeper co-operation

The “Entrepreneurs Meeting for Commercial and Economic Co-operation between China and Portuguese Speaking Countries-2006-Lisboa” opened in Lisbon on 10 April 2006. The three-day-long seminar was hosted jointly by ICEP, CCPIT and IPIM and co-organised or supported by trade promotion authorities and chambers of commerce from Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea Bissau, Mozambique and East Timor. Permanent Secretariat (Macao) of China and Portuguese-speaking Countries Economic and Trade Co-operation Forum also provided a great deal of support.

Two hundred and seventy-five enterprises from China and eight Portuguese-speaking countries attended the seminar and held 620 discussions on tourism, banking co-operation, imports and exports, product and agent services, construction and infrastructure, legal advice, traditional Chinese medicines and raw material procurement.

The Entrepreneurs Meeting in Lisbon led to the conclusion of three co-operative agreements including an agreement between ICEP and IPIM, an agreement on setting up a Portuguese goods sales centre by Nam Kwong Group Co. Ltd. in China between ICEP and Nam Kwong Group and an institutional co-operation agreement between the International Lusophone Markets Business Association, BPI, BFA and Banco Comercial e de Investimento de Mocambique.

According to the co-operation agreement between trade promotion agencies and chambers of commerce between the Chinese mainland, Portuguese-speaking countries and Macao in 2003, the Entrepreneurs Meeting for Commercial and Economic Co-operation between China and Portuguese Speaking Countries will rotate every year among the participating countries and regions (seven Portuguese-speaking countries, Chinese Mainland and Macao). The previous Meeting was held in Luanda, Angola in March 2005 and was attended by over 550 entrepreneurs. By organizing and participating in such meetings in different countries and regions, enterprises from the Mainland and Macao are able to gain an understanding of the market potential in Portuguese-speaking countries so as to jointly explore business opportunities there.

President Lee Peng Hong of IPIM says that sending business delegations from Macao overseas shows that since the inauguration of the Forum, co-operation between the Chinese mainland, Macao and Portuguese-speaking countries has become deeper from being driven by the governments to specific co-operation conducted by business communities of their own initiative.

In November 2005, CCPIT, IPIM and trade promotion agencies from a number of Portuguese-speaking countries led business delegations to participate in an investment conference at the invitation of Trade Invest East Timor.

Mainland provinces and cities have sent delegations to Macao to attend MIF over the years to take advantage of Macao’s position as a trade and service platform so as to enhance their economic and trade co-operation and contacts with Portuguese-speaking countries. IPIM arranges for business delegations to travel overseas and participate every year in the largest exhibitions and fairs. Exhibitions and fairs held in Portuguese-speaking countries have attracted increased attention from various Mainland authorities, provinces and cities in recent years and have sent delegations to participate. For example, thanks to the Fujian and Macao Economic Promotion Commission, Fujian Provincial Economy and Trade Committee and IPIM jointly arranged for a Fujian delegation and business delegation from Macao to go to Mozambique to attend a trade fair in September 2005 to explore Portuguese-speaking markets. Local entrepreneurs showed a lot of interest in products from Fujian, such as clocks and watches, electronic goods, footwear and handicrafts. Economic and trade authorities from Fujian and Macao will send delegations this year to Portuguese-speaking countries to visit or to attend exhibitions.