On 22 June 2026, the Permanent Secretariat of the Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Macao) held the Press Conference for the 18th Cultural Week of China and Portuguese-speaking Countries at the Press Centre of the Complex of Commerce and Trade Co-operation Platform for China and Portuguese-speaking Countries. Secretary-General Mr. Ji Xianzheng and Deputy Secretaries-General Ms. Xie Ying and Mr. Danilo Henriques attended the event to present the overall programme and main activities of this edition of the Cultural Week. Organised and coordinated by the Permanent Secretariat, this edition will be held from 27 June to 10 July through interlinked activities in Macao, Qinghai and Beijing, under the theme “Sino-Lusophone Cultural Encounters, Friendship without Borders”, promoting cultural exchange between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries.

The Cultural Week highlights Macao’s unique role as a bridge, bringing people closer together through people-to-people and cultural exchanges and promoting economic and trade development through cultural cooperation. It is an important measure for implementing the Action Plan for Economic and Trade Co-operation, as well as a crucial step in the institutionalisation of the Cultural Week in “going beyond Macao” and extending to Mainland China. Mr. Ji Xianzheng said that this edition continues the model of “three-city interconnection”, seeking innovation through continuity and promoting improvement within tradition. By leveraging Macao’s platform advantages to connect with Mainland Chinese cities, the event will continue to enhance its professionalism and distinctive features, while ensuring open, coordinated and efficient implementation.

In terms of programme design, the Cultural Week will retain artistic performances, visits to tourist attractions and gastronomic showcases of Portuguese-speaking Countries. This edition will also introduce, as a new feature, a handicraft exhibition of Portuguese-speaking Countries, with a view to enhancing the cultural experience. At the same time, it will support local institutions in organising the “Short Video Competition for Youth from China and Portuguese-speaking Countries”, launching a new audiovisual cooperation mechanism and bringing together youth creativity and digital power to expand a new dimension in people-to-people and cultural exchanges between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries.

The activities in the three cities are interlinked while each has its own distinctive features. The Macao leg will begin on 26 June with the launch of the gastronomic showcase of Portuguese-speaking Countries. On the afternoon of 29 June, the opening ceremony of the Handicraft Exhibition of Portuguese-speaking Countries will take place at the Gallery of the Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM), and the exhibition will be open to the public from 30 June to 5 July. On 30 June, the Opening Ceremony of the Cultural Week (Macao) and a music and dance performance will be held at Senado Square, presenting artistic programmes with characteristics of China and Portuguese-speaking Countries over two consecutive evenings, on 30 June and 1 July. The Qinghai leg will have its main stage at Tangdao 637 Plaza in Xining, covering music and dance performances, economic and trade promotion, and cultural and tourism visits, thereby achieving integration between culture and local industries. The Beijing leg will be held at the Shell Theatre Square, also known as Beike Square, in Chaoyang Park, focusing on cultural exchange activities and performances to enhance the unique influence of the capital.

The Permanent Secretariat has strengthened overall coordination and risk response mechanisms, placing safety, health, and public health prevention and control as top priorities, and improving medical and emergency plans to ensure the stable and orderly organisation of the activities. In terms of publicity, TDM - Teledifusão de Macau, S.A. will serve as media partner, working with television organisations in Qinghai and Beijing, and coordinating traditional media and new media to build a multi-dimensional communication structure and comprehensively enhance the impact of the event.

The Permanent Secretariat warmly invites all sectors of society to actively participate in the activities, to jointly witness the beauty of cultural integration between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries, and to promote the integrated development of people-to-people and cultural exchanges as well as economic and trade cooperation to a new level. For more information on the activities, the public may visit the official page of the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao at https://www.forumchinaplp.org.mo/page/Semana-Cultural or the dedicated website of the Cultural Week at https://semanacultural.forumchinaplp.org.mo.