Representatives from the Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Forum Macao) hope the complex inaugurated by China’s Premier Li Keqiang during the 5th Ministerial Conference can be finished before the next conference in 2019.
During a press conference on the results of the 5th Ministerial Conference, Forum Macao Secretary-General, Xu Yingzhen stated that she hoped the complex supporting trade and economic co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, to be built near Nam Van Lake, could be finished by 2019.
The complex will be located near the Legislative Assembly building in an area of approximately 14,200 square metres, and will serve as a venue for future editions of Forum Macao.
It will also contain an exhibition centre for food products from Portuguese-speaking countries; a business service centre for enterprises from the Forum countries; a training centre; an information centre; an exhibition hall showcasing Sino-Luso relations and their cultures; and a room to stage exhibitions related to Macau’s urban development.
“The building of the complex is a [type of] support from the central government. We want to centralise all these services so that businessmen, tourists and residents can travel there. So far there’s no calendar for the conclusion of the installations, because it involves different procedures, concessions and feasibility studies. When it’s at a mature stage we will present more information,” Xu stated.
When questioned on which government body would be responsible for the complex, the Forum Macao Secretary-General only stated: “different Macau government departments will be responsible for it,” without providing specifics.
New areas of cooperation
The Forum Macao representatives emphasised one of the new action guidelines of cooperation presented at the conference: the enhancement of cooperation between Portuguese-speaking countries and regional institutions of provinces in Mainland China over the next three years, with the development of a long-term exchange mechanism between the regions.
Xu stated that this concept is part of three new cooperation areas appearing for the first time in a Forum Macao action plan, including the development of the industrial capacity of the Portuguese-speaking African countries and East-Timor, and the creation of new financial services to facilitate business between all parties.
Few details
When questioned on details about some of the announced projects included in Li Keqiang’s 19 measures for Macau, such as an RMB clearing centre, Ms. Xu only stated that Forum Macao expected that this initiative could attract more Mainland China banks to cooperate with Portuguese-speaking countries, and that no information on the centre’s location or system could be announced yet.
A similar response was given in regards to the planned move of the headquarters of the US$1 billion (MOP8 billion) fund for investment in Portuguese-speaking countries to Macau. Previously the President of the Fund for Development Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries, Chi Jianxin, stated the move was expected to be finalized by the end of 2016, but no information has been provided regarding its location and if its management would suffer alterations.
The Forum Macao Secretary-General considered this year’s Ministerial Conference an overall success, with 17 memorandum agreements for cooperation being signed between China and Lusophone countries; 100 agreements signed between business people from the infrastructure, finance, energy, technology, agriculture and commerce sectors; and the announcement of practical measures for the development of Macau as a bridge between the regions.
