Organised by the Permanent Secretariat of the Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Macao) and the China Transportation Association, and supported by the China International Contractors Association, the 12th China-Portuguese-Speaking Countries Infrastructure Co-operation Forum took place on 12 June, in Banquet Hall D, 3rd Floor, Cotai Expo, at The Venetian Macao. Held within the framework of the 17th International Infrastructure Investment and Construction Forum & Exhibition, the event was themed "Artificial Intelligence Empowerment China-PSC Infrastructure Co-operation to Enhance Quality and Efficiency". The Parallel Forum addressed the deep integration and application of artificial intelligence throughout the entire infrastructure lifecycle — from planning, design and construction, to operation, maintenance, safety management and green transition — aiming to drive sustainable and quality development of infrastructure co-operation between Mainland China, Macao and Portuguese-speaking Countries, towards a smarter, greener and more digital model.
Opening speeches were delivered by the Secretary-General of the Permanent Secretariat of the Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Macao), Mr. Ji Xianzheng; the President of the China International Contractors Association, Mr. Fang Qiuchen; the Vice-Chairperson of the Jiangsu Provincial Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, Ms. Han Liming; and the Vice-President of the China Transportation Association, Mr. Fang Hai. The event was attended by more than 120 participants, including representatives from competent government departments of Mainland China and Macao, dignitaries and consuls of Portuguese-speaking Countries in Macao, representatives from trade and business associations from Mainland China, Portuguese-speaking Countries and Macao, as well as all members of the Permanent Secretariat of the Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Macao).
Secretary-General, Mr. Ji Xianzheng, noted that the Action Plans for Economic and Trade Co-operation of the Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Macao) designate infrastructure, such as transport, information and communication technologies, electricity and water resources, as priority areas for co-operation, encouraging and supporting enterprises from the participating countries of the Forum to engage in projects through multiple models, including the integrated investment, construction and operation model, in order to promote connectivity and sustainable development. In 2025, the volume of bilateral trade between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries reached US$225.8 billion, China's stock of various types of investment in Portuguese-speaking Countries stood at approximately US$800 billion, and the turnover of contracted projects in Portuguese-speaking Countries amounted to around US$140 billion, making the infrastructure sector one of the major highlights of pragmatic Sino-Lusophone co-operation. Additionally, the Infrastructure Development Index of Portuguese-speaking Countries recorded continuous growth for the fifth consecutive year, demonstrating a favourable development trend and broad prospects for co-operation.
President Mr. Fang Qiuchen stated that infrastructure co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries should capitalise on development opportunities brought by digitalisation, network connectivity and intelligence, using high technologies to empower traditional infrastructure. He also advocated for persisting in green development to deepen co-operation in areas such as clean energy, energy conservation and environmental protection. Finally, he emphasised the importance of driving pragmatic co-operation by strengthening exchange at the level of technological engineering, standards and technical regulations, in order to achieve co-operation based on mutual benefits and shared gains.
The first panel discussion was moderated by the Director-General of the China-Portuguese-Speaking Countries Co-operation Studies Alliance, Mr. Tong Kai Chung. The panel featured interventions from the Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources of Timor-Leste, H.E. Mr. Francisco da Costa Monteiro; the General Coordinator of the Undersecretariat for Promotion and Planning of Brazil's Ministry of Transport, Mr. Rodrigo Santos Ferreira; the Director of Studies and New Works Services of Guinea-Bissau's Ministry of Public Works, Housing and Urban Planning, Mr. Amadú Bamba Sambú Dabó; the Executive Director of Sino Soar Hybrid (Beijing) Technology Co., Ltd, Mr. Cao Zhenwu; and a Member of the Centre for Security and International Strategy at Tsinghua University, Professor Dong Ting. Focusing on the sub-theme "New Infrastructure Co-operation Opportunities between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries in the Context of AI Development", the speakers discussed how Portuguese-speaking Countries can leverage AI empowerment and advanced Chinese technologies to give new impetus to sustainable infrastructure development, while also sharing forward-looking views on the intelligent upgrading of traditional sectors such as ports, energy and transport.
The second panel discussion was moderated by the Vice-President of the Urban Transport Section of the China Transportation Association, Mr. Li Zhiqiang. Speakers included a Fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE), Professor Zhang Xueji; the President of the China-Portuguese-Speaking Countries Co-operation and Development Fund Management Company, Mr. Zhang Jian; the Vice-President and Executive Director of Beijing Yunxingyu Traffic Technology Ltd, Mr. Sun Hao; and the Director of Global Partnerships of the Holcim Group, Mr. Liu Lijia. The guests shared experiences and identified spaces for Sino-Lusophone co-operation in the field of smart infrastructure, analysing how to enhance Macao's role as a Platform and innovate investment and financing models to promote the transformation and modernisation of co-operation. They also exchanged views on strengthening infrastructure resilience in Portuguese-speaking Countries, creating high-value-added employment and fostering economic diversification, highlighting the vast potential for mutual co-operation in this sector.
During the Infrastructure Forum period, the Permanent Secretariat of the Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Macao) also organised the China-Portuguese-Speaking Countries Infrastructure Co-operation Results Exhibition, with the aim of showcasing the fruits of this co-operation and investment opportunities. Concurrently, the Colloquium on Infrastructure Investment and Construction between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries took place, promoting communication and the strengthening of co-operation among all parties at multiple levels.
