On the morning of Nov 13, 2010, the Third Ministerial Conference of the Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries opened in East Asian Games Dome in Macao. Premier Wen Jiabao attended the opening ceremony and delivered a keynote speech.
Wen said the Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries is an important platform and bond for mutually beneficial and friendly cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries. It takes full advantage of Macao as a link between China and Portuguese-speaking countries and focuses on economic and trade cooperation. It has effectively promoted the exchange and cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries. Macao's economic and trade relations with Portuguese-speaking countries have also been strengthened. It has been proved that the forum is not only a bridge of cooperation, but also a bridge of friendship. It has not only brought tangible economic benefits to both sides, but also shortened the distance between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, deepened the friendship between the people and consolidated friendly relations between nations.
Wen stressed China and the Portuguese-speaking countries enjoy strong economic complementarities. The common interests are expanding. Mutual demands are also increasing. Therefore, the two sides enjoy broad prospects for cooperation. The two sides should adhere to the principle of equality, mutual benefit, complementary advantages, diversity, and common development to continuously expand cooperation areas, explore innovative forms of cooperation, and enrich cooperation contents. The two sides should work together to tackle the challenges in the post-financial crisis time and take bilateral economic and trade cooperation to a bigger scale, broader areas and a higher level. First, to expand the scale of bilateral trade. The two sides should strive to increase the bilateral trade volume to USD100 billion by 2013. Second, to improve the laws and regulations governing two-way investment and focus on promoting two-way investment. Third, to actively expand pragmatic cooperation in education, culture, health, sports and other social areas. Fourth, the Chinese government fully supports the economic and trade exchanges between Macao and Portuguese-speaking countries, and encourages Chinese enterprises to leverage Macao as a platform to conduct various forms of exchange and cooperation with Portuguese-speaking countries.
Wen announced the Chinese government will take the following measures from 2010 to 2013 to help developing Portuguese-speaking countries speed up development and get out of poverty. The financial institutions in the mainland of China and Macao will launch a cooperation and development fund with the scale up to USD1 billion. China, within the bilateral frameworks, will provide RMB-1.6-billion preferential loans to the Asian and African countries participating in the forum. China will provide materials, equipment, technology and human resources support for one bilateral agricultural cooperation project with each Asian and African countries participating in the forum. China will provide training for 1,500 officials and technicians from Asian and African countries participating in the forum. China will provide government scholarships for 1,000 students from Asian and African countries participating in the forum to study in China for a period of one year. China will provide medical equipment worth RMB10 million for Asian and African countries participating in the forum.
The heads of the delegations of 7 Portuguese-speaking countries including Timor-Leste's President José Ramos-Horta, Portugal Prime Minister José Sócrates, Guinea Bissau Prime Minister Carlos Gomes Junio, and Mozambican Prime Minister Aires Ali delivered speeches respectively at the opening ceremony. They all agreed that since the inception of the forum in 2003, the resolutions of the forum meetings have been well executed and the areas of cooperation have been expanding. They were grateful for the strong support of the Chinese government and the linkage role of Macao. The six new initiatives proposed by Premier Wen are of great significance to deepening relations between China and the Portuguese-speaking countries. The Portuguese-speaking countries are willing to work with China to take bilateral cooperation to a higher level.
The opening ceremony was presided over by Minister of Commerce Chen Deming. A total of about 1,500 delegates attended the opening ceremony, including officials, bankers, and entrepreneurs from China and Portuguese-speaking countries.
Chief Executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region Chui Sai On also attended the opening ceremony.
On the evening of Nov. 13, Premier Wen attended the welcome dinner hosted by the Macao Special Administrative Region Government and the Ministry of Commerce of China for the domestic and foreign guests attending the Third Ministerial Conference of the Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries.
The Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries was created in 2003. This session of the forum has selected "Diversified Cooperation, Harmonious Development" as its theme, It will identify the direction, areas and means for economic and trade cooperation between China and the Portuguese-speaking countries from 2010 to 2013. A number of documents will be signed. The forum will also hold ministerial conference, business and financial conference, board-unveiling ceremony for the training centre of the forum, press conference and other events.