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Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao and Macao Health Bureau Co-organise Colloquium on Public Health and Disease Prevention and Control between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries
Release time：2026-03-27
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Group photo of the guests and participants Group photo of the guests and participants
Ji Xianzheng, Secretary-General of the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao, and Lo Iek Long, Director of the Health Bureau, delivering speeches Ji Xianzheng, Secretary-General of the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao, and Lo Iek Long, Director of the Health Bureau, delivering speeches
Guests presenting certificates to the participants Guests presenting certificates to the participants
Exchange and discussion among the participants (1) Exchange and discussion among the participants (1)
Exchange and discussion among the participants (2) Exchange and discussion among the participants (2)
Study visit: strengthening exchanges in the field of health Study visit: strengthening exchanges in the field of health
Study visit: strengthening exchanges in import and export inspection and quarantine Study visit: strengthening exchanges in import and export inspection and quarantine
Study visit: development of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Science and Technology Industrial Park of Co-operation between Guangdong and Macao Study visit: development of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Science and Technology Industrial Park of Co-operation between Guangdong and Macao
Study visits and learning activities Study visits and learning activities


On 27 March, the closing ceremony of the Colloquium on Public Health and Disease Prevention and Control between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries, co-organised by the Permanent Secretariat of Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Macao) and the Health Bureau of the Macao SAR Government, was held at the Galaxy International Convention Center in Macao. The Colloquium was held from 16 to 27 March and brought together 19 officials and technical personnel from Mainland China and the nine Portuguese-speaking Countries. Ji Xianzheng, Secretary-General of the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao, Lo Iek Long, Director of the Health Bureau of the Macao SAR, and Ana Cristina, rotating representative of the Colloquium, attended the event and delivered speeches.


Secretary-General Ji Xianzheng stated that, since its establishment, Forum Macao has remained committed to deepening mutually beneficial co-operation. At the 6th Ministerial Conference held in Macao in April 2024, the Action Plan for Economic and Trade Co-operation (2024–2027) was adopted, setting out 20 priority areas of co-operation. In the field of health, six consensuses were reached: deepening co-operation in the health sector and encouraging Macao’s participation in overseas medical assistance missions; promoting co-operation in traditional medicine and the establishment of traditional Chinese medicine centres overseas; recognising the efforts of the Macao SAR in activities carried out by the Traditional Chinese Medicine Science and Technology Industrial Park of Co-operation between Guangdong and Macao; recognising the role played by the China–Portuguese-speaking Countries Epidemic Prevention Exchange Centre in epidemic prevention and treatment; supporting representative medical and health associations in establishing permanent contact mechanisms; and strengthening the exchange of experience and knowledge among supervisory authorities in the areas of registration, supervision and inspection of medical and pharmaceutical products, while encouraging the establishment of overseas exhibition centres for medical products.


This colloquium is the first event organised by the Permanent Secretariat in 2026 and constitutes another important activity in the field of public health since the establishment of the Epidemic Prevention Exchange Centre in 2022. China will continue to expand its opening-up, broaden the scope for international co-operation and contribute to the stability of the global economy. Through conferences, exhibitions, visits, thematic seminars and other formats, the Permanent Secretariat will continue to promote policy alignment, technical exchanges and talent training with the Portuguese-speaking Countries, so as to ensure the implementation of the objectives set out in the Action Plan.


Lo Iek Long, Director of the Health Bureau of the Macao SAR, stated that the successful organisation of this colloquium was made possible by the co-ordination of the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao and the strong support of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the Macao SAR, the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao SAR, and the various consulates in Macao. Director Lo Iek Long emphasised that global public health continues to face challenges such as cross-border communicable diseases, the prevention and control of chronic diseases and public health emergencies. Macao, for its part, has been entrusted by the country with a strategic mission, namely to serve as a bridge between China and the Portuguese-speaking Countries. Since the inauguration of the Epidemic Prevention Exchange Centre, Macao has organised various exchange activities, including events relating to traditional medicine and emergency medical teams. In the future, it will continue to play its role as a “privileged interlocutor”, building on this Exchange Centre to promote policy communication, technical exchanges and talent training, thereby contributing to the high-quality development of regional public health.


Ana Cristina, rotating representative of the Colloquium, said that the participants would take back with them the knowledge of traditional Chinese medicine, experience in emergency management and methods for building a health ecosystem acquired during the colloquium, and apply them in public health practice in their respective countries. On behalf of all participants, she expressed gratitude to the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao, the Health Bureau of the Macao SAR and the various partners for providing this learning platform. She acknowledged that the colloquium had not only deepened China–Portuguese-speaking Countries co-operation in the fields of medicine and health, but had also built a professional network that fosters trust, continuous exchange and the sharing of experience, thus laying a solid foundation for future regional co-operation in epidemic prevention and health development.


During the colloquium, the participants undertook studies on public health systems, disease prevention and control, traditional Chinese medicine and traditional medicines, in addition to visiting several medical institutions, including the State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine of the University of Macau, Conde de São Januário Hospital, the Macao Medical Center of Peking Union Medical College Hospital, and the Food Inspection Division and the Animal Inspection and Control Division of the Municipal Affairs Bureau of Macao. In Hengqin, the participants visited the Traditional Chinese Medicine Science and Technology Industrial Park of Co-operation between Guangdong and Macao and the health authorities of the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Co-operation Zone in Hengqin.


Also present at the closing ceremony were Jorge Ferrão, Vice-Consul of Angola in Macao; Aurélio de Jesus Chiconela, Counsellor of Mozambique in Macao; Zhao Xin, Acting Head of the Trade Division of the Economic Affairs Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao SAR; Yang Yi, Deputy Head of Division of the Economic Affairs Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao SAR; among others. All members of the Permanent Secretariat also attended the event.