The Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries was lauded today for its contribution in bolstering exchanges between the two sides during the opening of the Third Ministerial Conference of the Forum. The heads of the seven delegations to the Conference spoke highly of the role of the Forum since its inception in 2003. The President of Timor-Leste, Mr José Ramos Horta, described the Forum as a flexible mechanism for co-operation that had brought immense benefits to peoples of the countries involved. For his part, the Prime Minister of Portugal, Mr José Sócrates, noted that the Forum offered a unique opportunity for China and Portuguese-speaking countries to promote bilateral trade and investment. The Prime Minister of Guinea-Bissau, Mr Carlos Gomes Júnior, said he believed that the Forum would enhance mutual ties and promote sustainable growth. The Prime Minister of Mozambique, Mr Aires Bonifácio, said the previous action plans adopted by the Forum had been fully implemented, demonstrating the success of the Forum. The Minister of Infrastructure, Transport and Telecommunication of Cape Verde, Mr Manuel Inocêncio Sousa, underlined that the Forum had the potential to boost co-operation on multiple fronts among its members. The Undersecretary General of Economic and Technological Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Brazil, Mr Pedro Luíz Carneiro de Mendonça, said his country acknowledged the Forum’s meaningful role in spurring growth in developing Portuguese-speaking countries and promoting China-Lusophone exchanges. The Minister of Economy of the Republic of Angola, Mr Abrahão Pio dos Santos Gourgel, pointed out that the Forum had helped its members cope with the challenges of globalisation. Meanwhile, the Premier of the State Council, Mr Wen Jiabao, said that the Forum had served as an important platform for mutually beneficial co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries. He added that the Forum had also tapped into Macao’s unique advantage as a bridge between the two sides; thanks to the Forum, trade exchanges between Macao and Portuguese-speaking countries have also strengthened.
