To promote cooperation in the tourism sector among mainland China, Macao, and Portuguese-speaking countries and to support the development of Macao as “One Center, One Platform”, the Permanent Secretariat continued to operate the “Portuguese-Speaking Countries Pavilion” during the Macao International Travel (Industry) Expo this year.

On March 26, the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao held its 19th regular meeting in Macao. Representatives from the Ministry of Commerce of China and the Macao SAR Government, ambassadors and liaison officers from Portuguese-speaking countries to China, and members of the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao attended the meeting. Chaired by Secretary-General Ji Xianzheng, the meeting summarized the work of 2023 and discussed and approved the work plan for 2024.

The 6th Ministerial Conference of the Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Macao) (hereinafter referred to as Forum Macao) will be held in Macao from April 21 to 23, 2024.

On March 19, a delegation of 23 people from the Investment Promotion Bureau of Oeiras, Portugal, led by Deputy Mayor Francisco Gonçalves, visited the Permanent Secretariat of Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Macao) (hereinafter referred to as “Forum Macao”).

On March 18, led by Catarina Rocha Ferreira, President of the Portugal-China Parliamentary Friendship Group, a Portuguese delegation to China comprising parliament members visited the Permanent Secretariat of Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Macao) (hereinafter referred to as “Forum Macao”).

As of March 1, António Ramos da Silva took office as the delegate of Timor-Leste to the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao, replacing his predecessor, Danilo Afonso Henriques.

From March 1, 2024, Danilo Afonso Henriques will serve as the Deputy Secretary-General of the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao, appointed by Portuguese-speaking countries.

On February 28, the Permanent Secretariat of the Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Macao) (Forum Macao) organized a Spring Festival Media Reception at MGM in Macao, during which Forum Macao held exchanges with the heads and representatives of Portuguese, English, and Chinese-language media in Macao.

From February 5 to 8, Secretary-General of the Permanent Secretariat of the Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Macao), Ji Xianzheng, led a delegation of the Permanent Secretariat to visit Beijing and called on the ambassadors or chargés d’ affaires of Angola, Brazil, Cabo Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Mozambique, Portugal, São Tomé e Príncipe, and Timor-Leste to China, respectively.

On December 15, the 2nd China (Macau) High-quality Consumption Exhibition was inaugurated in Macao. To support the development of China-Portuguese-speaking Countries Commercial and Trade Service Platform, the Permanent Secretariat of the Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Macao) set up the Pavilion of China-Portuguese-speaking Countries Commercial and Trade Service Platform.

The “Fusion of China and Portuguese-speaking Countries” Art Photography Exhibition (Hengqin) of the 15th Cultural Week of China and Portuguese-speaking Countries was inaugurated on December 1 at Hengqin Port Plaza. Adopting the innovative mode of “multi-venue event,” the exhibition was held in Macao and Hengqin for the first time. The exhibition in Macao was officiated on November 9.

From November 27 to 30, the Secretary-General of the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao, Ji Xianzheng, led a delegation to visit Beijing. Together with another delegation from Macao, the delegation met with the Chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), Ren Hongbin.