On the evening of September 28, the 17th Cultural Week of China and Portuguese-speaking Countries was grandly inaugurated at the Legend Square in Fisherman’s Wharf, Macao. This event was organized by the Permanent Secretariat of Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Macao) (Forum Macao), with about 11 guests from various sectors in attendance. The opening ceremony was officiated by dignitaries including the Secretary for Economy and Finance of the Macao SAR, Mr. Tai Kin Ip; the Director of the Economic Affairs Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao SAR, Mr. Liu Decheng; Counselor and Director of the Department of Information and Public Diplomacy of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Macao, Mr. Gao Yuan; the Consul-General of Portugal in Macao and Hong Kong, Mr. Alexandre Leitão; the Consul General of the Republic of Mozambique in Macao, Mr. Rodrigues Vitorino Muebe; the Deputy Consul of Angola in Macao, Ms. Teresa João Alvaro dos Santos Tiago; the President of the Commerce and Investment Promotion Institute of Macao, Mr. Che Weng Keong; and the Director of the Macao Government Tourism Office, Ms. Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes.

In his speech, Secretary-General Ji Xianzheng stated that the Strategic Plan for Economic and Trade Cooperation, adopted at the 6th Ministerial Conference of Forum Macao in 2024, highly commended the hosting of the Cultural Week of China and Portuguese-speaking Countries in Macao. The participating countries unanimously agreed to organize cultural exchange activities between China and Portuguese-speaking countries in mainland China, particularly in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. The Cultural Week is the largest annual event hosted by the Forum Macao. Since 2008, it has successfully held 16 editions. This year’s Cultural Week will extend to mainland China for the first time, taking place in Macao, Zhongshan, and Beijing, to expand the audience and influence of the Cultural Week, fully leverage Macao’s important role as a platform between China and Portuguese-speaking countries (PSCs), and further promote cultural exchanges and mutual understanding between the peoples. In addition, the Cultural Week will bring together performing artists and craftsmen from Beijing, Qinghai, Zhejiang, and Zhuhai, as well as singers and shows from Macao. By combining traditional and new media to amplify dissemination, it will create convenient conditions for artists from PSCs to gain insight into China.

Prior to the opening ceremony, guests toured the China-Portuguese-speaking Countries Handicraft Market and Exhibition Stalls. Following the opening, the “A Tapestry of Luso-Chinese Splendour” song and dance performance made its debut, with Sino-Portuguese artists presenting audiences with an audiovisual feast.

The principal activities of the Macao Station of this edition’s Cultural Week will take place from September 27 to October 2, encompassing the 2025 Collective Exhibition of Audiovisual Mechanism Works and Broadcasting from China–Portuguese-speaking Countries, handicraft exhibitions and sales, and gastronomic experiences, to showcase the distinctive cultures of China and PSCs comprehensively. 72 performing artists from mainland China, Macao, and 9 PSCs, together with 12 handicraft artisans, will present unique song and dance performances and handicraft works. Five renowned chefs from Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, and Mozambique will collaborate with local catering operators to introduce special menus fusing flavors from PSCs at restaurants in Macao Fisherman’s Wharf, while demonstrating their culinary skills on-site to enable the public to experience the rich gastronomic culture free of charge. Additionally, a launch event for the Chinese translations of Angolan literary works will take place on October 24. From October 25 to November 18, the IAM Gallery will host an exhibition of artworks from PSCs.

The activities of this edition’s Cultural Week are rich and diverse, and residents and visitors are warmly invited to participate and experience the charm of the fusion and mutual promotion of Chinese and PSCs’ cultures. For more details, please visit the Cultural Week website: https://semanacultural.forumchinaplp.org.mo.