China’s Prime Minister Li Keqiang, will preside over the opening of the 5th Ministerial Conference of the Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-Speaking Countries to be held on 11 and 12 of October in Macau, the Xinhua news agency reported on Monday.

Following the official announcement of a three-day visit by Li Keqiang to Macau, the local government in a statement, said the trip was a great incentive and demonstrated “strong support and great attention from the central government to the territory.”

In addition to China’s prime minister, four other prime ministers from Portuguese-speaking countries are scheduled to attend the summit: Jose Ulisses Correia e Silva of Cabo Verde (Cape Verde), Baciro Dja of Guinea-Bissau, Carlos Agostinho do Rosario of Mozambique and António Costa of Portugal.

The Forum will also be attended by the Minister of Economy of Angola, Abrahão Gourgel, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Services of Brazil, Marcos Pereira and the Minister of State, Coordinator of Economic Affairs and Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries of Timor-Leste (East Timor), Estanislau Aleixo da Silva.

The Macau Forum does not include representation from Sao Tome and Principe as the country has diplomatic relations with Taiwan but, like the previous edition of the Macau Forum, officials of the government of that African nation will be present as observers at several of the conference ceremonies.

The opening ceremony of the 5th Ministerial Conference of Forum Macau will be chaired by Minister of Trade, Gao Hucheng, ending with the announcement of the Action Plan for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-Speaking Countries for 2017-2019.

Since the creation of Macau Forum, by the Chinese government in 2003, four Ministerial Conferences have been held: in 2003, 2006, 2010 and 2013.

Under the theme “Towards Consolidation of Economic and Trade Relations between China and the Portuguese-speaking Countries: Joining Efforts for Cooperation, Building a Platform Together, Sharing the Benefits of Development,” this year’s ministerial meeting will explore new areas for economic and trade cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, increasing and strengthening the level of cooperation as well as continuing Macau’s role in the consolidation process as a platform for economic and trade cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries. (macauhub)