Backgrounder: Brief introduction to Portuguese-speaking countries -- Guinea-Bissau

The Second Conference of the Forum on Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese- speaking Countries will be held here from Sept. 24 to 25. The following is a brief introduction to Guinea-Bissau, one of the seven Portuguese-speaking countries:

Located in the westernmost part of Africa, Guinea-Bissau has a population of 1.537 million and an area of 36,000 square kilometers.The country boasts mineral resources of bauxite and phosphate, and fishery and forestry are its most important resources and source of revenue.

With a coastline of 220 kilometers, Guinea-Bissau has a huge haul of about 200,000 tons a year. Besides, the country has a forest area of nearly 24,600 square kilometers, which is rich in such valuable trees as rosewoods, myrtles, blood-woods, white- woods and palms.

Guinea-Bissau's main trade partners are Portugal, Senegal, Spain,Morocco, Japan, South Africa, India and Singapore.

China and Guinea-Bissau resumed diplomatic relations in 1998. Since then, two-way trade has grown, reaching 12.35 million U.S. dollars in volume in 2003, an all-time high. The two countries started cooperation in fishery in 1984. At present, there are 21 Chinese fishing boats operating in the sea area of Guinea-Bissau, and have good results. There are much room and good prospects for China and Guinea-Bissau to cooperate in fishery.

Source: Xinhua