The delegation from the Permanent Secretariat of Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Macao), led by Secretary-General Ji Xianzheng, visited Equatorial Guinea from July 27 to 29. The delegation attended the “Entrepreneurs Meeting for Commercial and Economic Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries – Malabo 2025” and hosted a reception. During the visit, the Secretary-General paid courtesy calls on Wang Wengang, the Chinese Ambassador to Equatorial Guinea, and Simeón Oyono Esono Angue, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and Diaspora of Equatorial Guinea. He also met with Honorato Evita Oma, the Minister of Transport, Telecommunications and Artificial Intelligence Systems of Equatorial Guinea, and co-chaired an inter-departmental working exchange meeting with Matías Nguema Mba, the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Equatorial Guinea.

On July 28, the reception hosted by the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao was held in Malabo. Wang Wengang, the Chinese Ambassador to Equatorial Guinea, and Gaudencio Mohaba Mesu, the Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Trade, Business Promotion and Industry of Equatorial Guinea, delivered successive speeches. Zhang Jian, Director of the Management Department of China-Portuguese-speaking Countries Co-operation and Development Fund (CPD Fund), gave a special presentation. Approximately 150 attendees were present, including representatives from relevant ministries of the Equatorial Guinean government, representatives from the Chinese Embassy in Equatorial Guinea, representatives from local enterprises and business associations in Equatorial Guinea, representatives from Chinese-funded enterprises and institutions in Equatorial Guinea, representatives from the Macao Commerce and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM), and a delegation of Macao enterprises.

On July 29, the “Entrepreneurs Meeting for Commercial and Economic Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries – Malabo 2025”, co-hosted by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), the IPIM, and the Equatorial Guinea Chamber of Commerce, was grandly convened. More than 300 participants attended, including Manuel Osa Nsue Nsua, Prime Minister of Equatorial Guinea; Gaudencio Mohaba Mesu, the Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Trade, Business Promotion and Industry of Equatorial Guinea; Wang Wengang, the Chinese Ambassador to Equatorial Guinea; Xu Jinli, Deputy Director of the Bilateral Cooperation Department of the China Chamber of International Commerce (CCOIC); and representatives from enterprises in mainland China, Portuguese-speaking countries, and Macao. The meeting featured a signing ceremony for a cooperation agreement and promotional activities for investment opportunities.

In his opening speech, Secretary-General Ji Xianzheng stated that the Secretariat has actively participated in the Entrepreneurs Meeting for Commercial and Economic Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries for many years, supporting strengthened exchanges among enterprises from various countries. The participating countries of Forum Macao have always adhered to the original aspiration of common development and the concept of win-win cooperation. The ministers from the participating countries at the Sixth Ministerial Conference noted the efforts made by relevant parties in promoting the high-quality joint construction of the “Belt and Road” Initiative, and committed to promote the establishment of a universal, rules-based, open, non-discriminatory, and fair multilateral trading system, driving economic globalization toward a more open, inclusive, balanced, and win-win direction. Moving forward, the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao will work with all parties to implement the Strategic Plan for Economic and Trade Cooperation from the Sixth Ministerial Conference of Forum Macao and promote cooperation in various fields between China and Portuguese-speaking countries.

During the meeting with Simeón Oyono Esono Angue, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and Diaspora of Equatorial Guinea, Secretary-General Ji Xianzheng highlighted the Strategic Plan for Economic and Trade Cooperation from the Sixth Ministerial Conference of Forum Macao and the progress in implementing China’s measures and outcomes. He stated that the Secretariat will continue its work in areas such as trade and investment, infrastructure, and education and training. The Secretariat appreciates Equatorial Guinea’s active participation in various Forum activities since joining Forum Macao and is willing to maintain close communication and coordination with relevant departments in Equatorial Guinea to jointly implement the Strategic Plan and carry out multi-field cooperation.

Minister Oyono praised the series of achievements from the Sixth Ministerial Conference of Forum Macao, stating that the relationship between China and Equatorial Guinea is solid and reliable. Under the leadership of the two countries’ leaders, Equatorial Guinea is willing to work with China to further deepen the implementation of bilateral relations and expand practical cooperation in various fields. Equatorial Guinea attaches great importance to Forum Macao as a multilateral cooperation platform and looks forward to strengthening cooperation with China and other Portuguese-speaking countries through the Forum mechanism to support Equatorial Guinea in achieving economic diversification and sustainable development.

Deputy Secretaries-General Danilo Afonso Henriques and António Lei; the Coordinator of the Liaison Office and the Representative of Angola, Agostinho dos Santos; the Representative of Cape Verde, Nuno Furtado; the Representative of Guinea-Bissau, Abdú Jaquité; the Representative of Equatorial Guinea, Cristina Mangue Abeso; the Representative of Mozambique, Francisca Reino; the Representative of Portugal, Márcia Guerreiro; the Representative of São Tomé and Príncipe, Pedro Jorge Carvalho; and the Representative of Timor-Leste, António Ramos da Silva, accompanied the delegation in the relevant activities.