The 5th Ministerial Conference of the Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Macao) opened today, with Premier of the State Council, Li Keqiang, delivering a keynote speech. Premier Li announced at the opening ceremony a total of 18 new measures to support the development of the Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Macao), a body also known as Forum Macao. The Minister of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China, Mr Gao Hucheng, also officiated at the ceremony. In his keynote speech, Premier Li said Forum Macao offers an intangible but nonetheless effective bridge that strengthens links between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, and should make even better use of Macao’s bridging role between China and the Portuguese-speaking countries. The opening ceremony was held this morning at the Macao East Asian Games Dome. The Prime Minister of Cape Verde, Mr José Ulisses Correia e Silva; the Prime Minister of Guinea-Bissau, Mr Baciro Djá; the Prime Minister of the Republic of Mozambique, Mr Carlos Agostinho do Rosário; the Prime Minister of the Portuguese Republic, Mr António Costa; the Minister of Economy of the Republic of Angola, Mr Abrahão Gourgel; the Minister of Industry, Trade and Services of the Federative Republic of Brazil, Mr Marcos Pereira; and the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of the Democratic Republic of East Timor, Mr Estanislau Aleixo da Silva, made remarks at the opening ceremony following the keynote speech delivered by Premier Li. The theme of the 5th Ministerial Conference of Forum Macao is: Working Toward Stronger Sino-Portuguese-speaking Countries’ Trade and Economic Relations – Combining Efforts, Jointly Building a Platform, Sharing Fruits of Development. The Ministerial Conference aims to advance further Macao’s unique functions in connecting and boosting cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries. The ceremony was attended by more than 1,000 people including: members of the Central Government delegation, members of delegations from the Portuguese-speaking countries participating in Forum Macao; principal and other officials of the Macao SAR Government; members of the Executive Council; members of the Legislative Assembly; and senior officials of representative offices in Macao of the Central Government. Prior to the opening ceremony, Premier Li posed for a group photograph with the heads of delegations of the seven Portuguese-speaking countries participating in the 5th Ministerial Conference of Forum Macao. The portion of the Ministerial Conference that took place this afternoon focused on the development vision and direction for cooperation among the participating countries, in relation to the period 2017 to 2019. Delegates representing the participating countries were scheduled to sign several memorandums of cooperation. Meetings between entrepreneurs from China and those from Portuguese-speaking countries will be held tomorrow morning (Wednesday 12 October).
