The 4th Ministerial Conference of the Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries opens today

The 4th Ministerial Conference of the Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries opened today at the Macao East Asia Dome where the Chinese Vice Premier, Mr Wang Yang, delivered a keynote speech at the opening ceremony. The ceremony was presided by the Minister of Commerce of the People's Republic of China, Mr Gao Hucheng, who said that the Forum has been an important platform to deepen the mutually beneficial co-operation and development between China and the Portuguese-speaking Countries. He stressed that, under the theme of "New Starting Point, New Challenges", the 4th Forum would further boost the trade and business co-operation between China and the Portuguese-speaking Countries. Vice Premier Mr Wang reviewed the achievements of the Forum over the past decade and said actions have proved that China and the Portuguese-speaking Countries are partners in developments of mutual benefit. He said future co-operation between China and the Portuguese-speaking Countries would become broader and deeper, then announced the eight new measures to bolster co-operation. Prime Minister of Guinea-Bissau, Mr Rui Duarte Barros, the Vice President of Brazil, Mr Michel Temer, Deputy Prime Minister of Portugal, Mr Paulo Portas, Deputy Prime Minister of Timor-leste, the Minister of Justice and Human Rights of Angola, Mr Rui Mangueira.Mr Fernando de Araújo, the Minister of Tourism, Industry and Energy of Cape Verde, Mr Humberto Santos de Brito, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mozambique, Mr Oldemiro Balói also delivered speeches. Some 980 guests at the ceremony included representatives from the Chinese Government, the Portuguese-speaking Countries, Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Macao Special Administrative Region, members of the Executive Council, Legislative Assembly, business associations and entrepreneurs.