The “2025 Colloquium on Cooperation in the Tourism Sector between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries”, hosted by the Permanent Secretariat of Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-Speaking Countries (Macao), held its closing ceremony and certificate presentation on May 2 at the Macau Tower.

This colloquium was the first organized by the Training Center of Forum Macao this year. From April 22 to May 6, 18 participants, including officials, technicians, and senior executives from Angola, Cabo Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Mozambique, Portugal, São Tomé and Príncipe, and Timor-Leste, engaged in exchange and study in Macao. Participants attended thematic lectures and discussions on topics such as Macao’s role as a platform between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, smart tourism, digital marketing, ecotourism, and sustainable development. They also visited the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO), the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM), the Macao University of Tourism (UTM), and Galaxy Macau, and participated in the 13th Macao International Travel (Industry) Expo (MITE) and the “Presentation on Tourism Products from the Portuguese-speaking Countries”. Additionally, they toured UNESCO World Heritage sites and other tourism facilities.

Xie Ying, the Deputy Secretary-General of the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao, Ip Kuai Peng, the Vice Rector of City University of Macau (CityU), and Magda Soares de Sousa Bandeira Lopes, the rotating class leader of the colloquium, attended the ceremony and delivered speeches. Deputy Secretary-General Xie Ying noted that, through the signing of the Strategic Plan for Economic and Trade Cooperation (2024-2027), Forum Macao member countries reached three agreements on cultural and tourism cooperation: deepening cultural and tourism exchanges, promoting the establishment of cultural centers and talent training, and supporting Macao in hosting cultural exchange activities. To implement the Strategic Plan, China established a Follow-up Action Committee to advance cooperation with Portuguese-speaking countries in various fields, including cultural and tourism collaboration. Over the years, the Permanent Secretariat, in partnership with CityU and the MGTO, has provided training and internship opportunities for tourism officials from Portuguese-speaking countries and facilitated the promotion of their tourism resources. In future, the Permanent Secretariat will continue to host and participate in various economic, trade, and cultural exchange activities to promote comprehensive and mutually beneficial cooperation with Portuguese-speaking countries.

Vice-Rector Ip Kuai Peng of CityU stated in his speech that Macao, as a world tourism and leisure hub, will leverage international promotion strategies, using Portuguese-speaking countries as an entry point to gradually build a tourism service trade platform connecting Portuguese-speaking nations, the European Union, ASEAN, and the Americas. He expressed hope that participants would apply their acquired knowledge in their home countries to advance tourism education and industry development, creating more cooperation opportunities and collectively promoting regional prosperity.

Magda Soares de Sousa Bandeira Lopes, the rotating class leader of the colloquium, expressed gratitude to the Forum Macao Secretariat for facilitating this training opportunity. She highlighted that the colloquium showcased the development potential of the tourism industry, providing participants with rich and innovative experiences. The series of activities broadened participants’ perspectives, strengthened the foundation for cooperation, and instilled confidence in the promising future of tourism collaboration between China and Portuguese-speaking countries.