There will be 20 new initiatives covering six major areas introduced in a bid to lift to new heights the economic and trade cooperation between China and the Portuguese-speaking countries.
The announcement of these new measures was made yesterday by Li Hongzhong, member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China, at the opening of the 6th Ministerial Conference of the Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Macao) – known as Forum Macao.
The six major areas are:
1. Facilitation of cooperation in trade and investment. Efforts will be made to support enterprises in Portuguese-speaking countries to participate in major exhibitions such as the China International Import Expo. Export credit insurance will be provided to facilitate cooperation between Chinese enterprises and those from Portuguese-speaking countries .
Trade financing support will be offered to assist Chinese companies in expanding imports from Portuguese-speaking countries. Measures will be implemented to facilitate inspections and quarantine procedures for imported food and agricultural products from Portuguese-speaking countries. There will be enhanced exchanges on trade and investment policies, including the formulation of a China-Portuguese-speaking countries’ trade and investment guidebook.
2. Expansion of industrial cooperation. Assistance will be provided to Portuguese-speaking countries in enhancing their agricultural capabilities through the establishment or upgrading of “agricultural cooperation demonstration zones”. Joint scientific research projects will be carried out, and collaborative laboratories will be established. More air transport agreements will be signed with Portuguese-speaking countries, to facilitate closer personnel exchanges.
3. Strengthening of development cooperation. Assistance will be rendered, to the best extent possible, to the Portuguese-speaking countries in Asia and Africa. Support will be extended to interested Portuguese-speaking countries in Asia and Africa with regards to the formulation of economic development plans. Development aid funds will be coordinated to promote cooperation in agriculture, healthcare, culture, transportation, and infrastructure, with an aim to implement a number of small-scale and impactful livelihood projects.
4. Promotion of cooperation in human resources. An aggregate of 3,000 training opportunities will be provided to the Portuguese-speaking countries. Governmental scholarships will be offered to students from Portuguese-speaking countries to study in China. Support will be provided to the Macao Special Administrative Region Government in inviting personnel from Portuguese-speaking countries to engage in study tours and internships in Macau, particularly in the field of tourism.
5. Advancement of cooperation in healthcare. Collaboration with Portuguese-speaking countries will see pair-up hospitals in those countries. Short-term medical projects will also be initiated in Portuguese-speaking countries. Talented people from the field of traditional Chinese medicine will be trained for Portuguese-speaking countries, and overseas traditional Chinese medicine centres will be established in Portuguese-speaking countries where possible. A total of 300 medical assistance personnel will be dispatched to Portuguese-speaking countries in Asia and Africa.
6. Deepening in cooperation regarding Macao as a platform. Support will be provided to Macau in establishing itself as a financial services platform for China and Portuguese-speaking countries, including developing an international bond market denominated in currencies such as the renminbi and the pataca. Assistance will be extended to Macau to build a science and technology cooperation platform for China and Portuguese-speaking countries, prioritising the implementation of suitable projects. Support will be given to establishing a mechanism in Macau for audiovisual-sector cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, and for fostering multifaceted cooperation in this field.
Li also said China, as the world’s second-largest economy, is also a market with tremendous potential. Its economy is healthy, sustainable, and has strong prospects. China is committed to high-quality development, and actively building a new development paradigm. This will inject strong impetus into the global economic recovery and provide a broad market for countries including Portuguese-speaking countries.
Source and Photo: Government Information Bureau (GCS)
Caption: This photo shows Minister of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China Wang Wentao officiating the opening ceremony of the 6th Ministerial Conference of the Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Macao).
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