The “Colloquium on Blue Economy Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries”, hosted by the Permanent Secretariat of Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Macao) and organized by the University of Saint Joseph (USJ), held its closing ceremony and certificate presentation on June 18 at the Macau Tower. Ji Xianzheng, the Secretary-General of the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao, Teresa Loong, Vice-Rector of the USJ, and Carlos Cesar de Mello Júnior, the rotating class leader of the colloquium, attended the ceremony and delivered speeches.

The Secretary-General Ji Xianzheng stated that the Permanent Secretariat, in close collaboration with the USJ and the Fujian Ocean and Fisheries Bureau, provided an opportunity for fisheries officials from Portuguese-speaking countries to train in Macao. By organizing the Marine Fisheries Industry Investment Promotion Session between Fuzhou and Portuguese-speaking Countries during the 17th China (Fuzhou) International Seafood & Fisheries Expo in 2025, the Secretariat facilitated expanded cooperation channels and project matchmaking. During the colloquium, all participants engaged in diverse activities, benefiting significantly from professional knowledge and practical skills through thematic lectures, site visits, and case studies. The Permanent Secretariat will continue to host and participate in various conferences and exhibitions, organize exchange visits, and conduct specialized colloquiums to promote comprehensive and mutually beneficial cooperation with Portuguese-speaking countries.

Vice-Rector Teresa Loong expressed gratitude to the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao for providing the USJ with the opportunity to co-organize the “Colloquium on Blue Economy Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries”, connecting China with Portuguese-speaking countries through cultural and knowledge exchange platforms in Macao and Fuzhou. Since 2020, the USJ has collaborated with the Institute of Oceanology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and in 2023, they jointly established the “Sino-Portugal Joint Laboratory for Marine and Environmental Sciences”. Both parties aim to advance marine science education and explore new opportunities for China and Portuguese-speaking countries under the Forum Macao framework through this platform.

Carlos Cesar de Mello Júnior, the rotating class leader of the colloquium, expressed appreciation to the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao for creating this opportunity to explore blue economy topics. He noted that the colloquium’s rich and innovative content was relevant to the realities of participating countries. High-quality thematic lectures and interactive discussions showcased the expertise of speakers and the engagement of participants, further enhancing professional knowledge. Participants gained not only technical experience but also insights into the rich cultures of mainland China, Fuzhou, and Macao. He emphasized that the blue economy is a strategic pillar for the sustainable development of Portuguese-speaking countries and the world, and the colloquium marks the beginning of deeper partnerships.

This colloquium was the third organized by the Training Center of Forum Macao this year. From June 5 to 19, 19 participants, including officials, professionals, and technicians from Angola, Brazil, Cabo Verde, Macao, Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Mozambique, Portugal, and São Tomé and Príncipe, conducted exchange and study in Macao and Fuzhou, Fujian Province. In Macao, participants attended engaging thematic lectures, hands-on experiences, and discussions covering topics such as Macao’s role as a trade and economic cooperation service platform between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, “enabling technologies” in microalgae aquaculture, open innovation and capacity building for technology transfer, technological transfer and development of fishery resources to other economic sectors, the path to green biomanufacturing of fucoxanthin and its applications, sustainable blue economy development and cooperation, and strategies for innovative partnerships between Portuguese-speaking countries and China. They also visited the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao, the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute, Macao’s UNESCO World Heritage sites, tourism facilities, and held discussions with associations and institutes on green industries, enterprises, youth, cultural tourism, and legal matters.

In Fuzhou, participants attended the opening ceremony of the 2025 Cross-Strait (Fuzhou) Fisheries Week and China (Fuzhou) International Seafood & Fisheries Expo, as well as the “Intelligent Navigation” Marine Economy and Fisheries Development Forum. They also participated in the Marine Fisheries Industry Investment Promotion Session between Fuzhou and Portuguese-speaking Countries, co-hosted by the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao and the Fuzhou Municipal People’s Government and organized by the Fuzhou Ocean and Fishery Bureau, where one participant from each Portuguese-speaking country presented their nation’s marine fisheries plans and policies. Additionally, participants conducted site visits in Fuzhou’s Mawei and Lianjiang areas to gain further insights into Fuzhou’s deep-sea aquaculture, modern fisheries industry, and marine culture, and engaged with local authorities and enterprises.

The closing ceremony was also attended by Eduardo Velasco Galiano, Consul General of Angola in Macao; Aurélio de Jesus Chiconela, Counselor of the Consulate General of Mozambique in Macao; Xie Ying, Danilo Afonso Henriques, and Casimiro de Jesus Pinto, Deputy Secretaries-General of the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao; Márcia Cordeiro Guerreiro, Portugal’s representative to the Permanent Secretariat; and all members of the Permanent Secretariat.