Chinese National Development and Reform Commission Chairman He Lifeng has called for Macao to advance the Chinese Belt and Road initiative in the Portuguese-speaking Countries, the Macao SAR Government says.

The government issued a written statement saying Mr He made the call in Beijing, when he and Macao Chief Executive Chui Sai On signed an agreement on Macao support for the Belt and Road initiative.

Mr He said the close ties between Macao and the Portuguese-speaking Countries made it easier for the city to push the initiative.

The agreement will help Macau to develop its financial services industry, to promote greater use of the renminbi in trade between China and the lusophone world, and to become a centre for training people to become bilingual in Chinese and Portuguese, the government statement says.