China, Portuguese-speaking countries forum opens

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Sunday, October 12, 2003

China, Portuguese-speaking countries forum opens

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Chief Executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) government Edmund Ho Ha Wah announced on 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, namly Angola, Brazil, CapeVerde, 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.

Backgrounder

The Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries, the first of its kind, will be held in Macao from Oct. 12 to 14.

Sponsored by the Chinese Ministry of Commerce and hosted by the Macao Special Administrative Region government, the forum is expected to attract ministerial-level officials in charge of trade and economic affairs from seven Portuguese-speaking countries including Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea Bissau, Mozambique, Portugal and East Timor. Chinese Vice Premiere Wu Yi will meet with the officials during the forum, where a framework document on economic and trade cooperation between the member countries is expected to be signed.

With the theme of "building the framework of economic and trade cooperation and promoting mutual development of China and Portuguese-speaking countries," the forum is expected to tighten China's economic and trade relations with the seven Portuguese-speaking countries through the trade platform of Macao.

Over 700 participating entrepreneurs will meet and find potential partners in panel discussions and the China and Portuguese-Speaking Countries Economic and Trade Cooperation Fair, which will be held during the forum.

The forum will be held once every three years, with the chief executive of the Macao SAR government and the minister of commerce being the honorary chairmen of the organizing committee.

Macao, which was under Portuguese rule for over 400 years until1999, shares many similarities with the Portuguese-speaking world in language, history, culture and administration.

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