The Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) is to take on responsibility for administering 85 square kilometres of waters surrounding the SAR, and also for administering the land area where the Border Gate with Zhuhai is located, according to an executive meeting today of the State Council.

Activities in China’s services sector expanded slightly month-on-month in June according to official data. The National Bureau of Statistics said the services Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) rose to 53.8 in June from 53.2 in May, while its new orders sub-index rose to 51.3 in June from 49.5, as Beijing introduces measures to support the economy. The 50-point level separates contraction from expansion.

An official of the Communist Party of China has called for strengthened co-operation and mutual political trust with Portugal, Chinese official news agency Xinhua reported.

Angola’s President, José Eduardo dos Santos, stated on Thursday that an important new chapter has been opened in the country’s relations with China. He said it related to partnerships between Angolan and Chinese companies in the public and private sectors, Angolan news agency Angop reported.

Brazil’s state-controlled oil company Petrobras slashed its long-term spending plan by 37 percent, The Wall Street Journal reported.

The Angolan Government will sign a US$4.53-billion deal with a China-led consortium to build a new hydropower dam at Caculo Cabaça, according to an order signed by Angolan President José Eduardo dos Santos.

Portugal’s Institute of Traditional Medicine announced on Wednesday it has opened a company with the same name in Macau, further to promote co-operation, Macao’s Portuguese language newspaper Jornal Tribuna de Macau reported.

Cape Verde’s gross domestic product (GDP) grew 1.0 percent in the first quarter, slowing from 4.8 percent for same quarter in 2014.

Angolan central bank raised its benchmark interest rate for a second time this year in a bid to curb inflation pressures, amid declines in global oil prices.

China wants to “actively participate” in the latest 198.4 billion reais (US$64.1 billion) infrastructure plan announced by the Brazilian government last month, said Chinese Ambassador to Brazil Li Jinzhang. His remarks were made in an opinion article published by Brazil’s newspaper Correio Braziliense last week.

The Mozambican Government might sell to private shareholders some of its stakes in local companies. But such a move would only be considered for enterprises that are not considered of strategic importance economically, said Apolinário Panguene, president of the government’s Institute for the Management of State Holdings (IGEPE).

Portugal’s economic climate index continued to increase and recorded in June the best result since May 2008, official data from Statistics Portugal showed on Monday. But consumer confidence continued to decrease in June.