Delegations from Forum Macau will travel to Angola, Brazil, Cabo Verde (Cape Verde), Guinea Bissau, Mozambique, Portugal, Sao Tome and Principe and Timor-Leste (East Timor) this year under the institutions programme of activities for 2018, with a view to strengthening relations and exploring ways of further disseminating the institution’s objectives.

The trips to Praia, Bissau and Dili will be held in the first half of the year on the occasion of the 13th Meeting of business people for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries to be held in Portugal. A delegation from the Forum will also visit Brazil at the same time.

The visits are part of the programme of activities for 2018 that was discussed on Thursday in Macau during the 13th Regular Meeting of the Permanent Office of the Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries.

During the meeting officials mentioned that in 2018 the results of the evaluation of the work of the Forum over the last 15 years will be published, carried out by a Chinese entity, which will also suggest new lines of action for the future activities of Forum Macau.

The Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) is the leading research institute and think-tank of China’s central government.

Improving and strengthening communication between Forum Macau and the ambassadors of the Portuguese-speaking countries in Beijing, with the authorities and companies from the Chinese mainland, Macau and Portuguese-speaking countries are part of the objectives for 2018.

Forum Macau will also continue to pursue the objectives of the “Economic and Trade Cooperation Action Plan (2017-2019),” the “Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Productive Capacity” and the 18 measures announced in 2016 by the Chinese side with a view to strengthening the promotion of trade and investment, human resources cooperation, cultural exchange and cooperation between provinces and municipalities.

In conjunction with the Macau Government, Forum Macau will continue to participate in the construction of the Cultural Exchange Centre, monitor the operation of the Centre for Exchange of Innovation and Entrepreneurship for Young People and the construction of the Services Platform for Cooperation Between China and the Portuguese-Speaking Countries. (macauhub)