A two-day high-level Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries was kicked off in Macao on Monday.

Scores of officials from China and the seven Portuguese-speaking nations including Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea Bissau, Mozambique, Portugal and East Timor gathered to prepare for the second ministerial meeting of the forum scheduled here in 2006.

Wei Jianguo, vice-minister of China's Ministry of Commerce, said at the opening ceremony that the first ministerial meeting held in Macao in 2003 has cemented a platform for the economic cooperation between China and the Portuguese-speaking nations.

The second forum will hopefully boost the trade ties, Wei added.

The officials will hold discussions on details of the preparation for the 2006 ministerial meeting.

Source: Xinhua