MACAO, Oct. 11 -- China's Belt and Road Initiative is helpful to strengthen the economic relationship between China and Portuguese-speaking countries (PSCs), said Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa at the opening of the fifth Ministerial Conference of the Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and PSCs.
Costa, who came to Macao after his five-day official visit to Beijing, said China attached great importance to partnerships with all parts of the world. The Belt and Road Initiative is an important example which is supported by Portugal.
"Portugal is willing to participate in building the new Maritime Silk Road, and make the best use of its strategic position in Europe and the Atlantic Ocean, such as Port of Sines, to deepen the connection between Asia, Europe, Africa and South America," he added.
The theme of the two-day conference is "Moving towards a Stronger China-Portugal Trade and Economic Relationship: Jointly Discussing Cooperation, Constructing Platform and Sharing Development."
Inaugurated in 2003, the forum is sponsored by the Ministry of Commerce of China, hosted by Macao Special Administrative Region government and with the joint participation of seven PSCs: Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea Bissau, Mozambique, Portugal and East Timor.
Costa believed that since the world economy has undergone weak recovery, the forum should create more trade cooperation. "The Portuguese-speaking countries have 250 million consumers and account for 4.6 percent of world GDP. They also have diversified culture and mutually complemented economies. They have close relationship with European Union, African Union and Association of Southeast Asian Nations," he said.
Portugal has very close cooperation with China in recycled energy, environment protection, marine development, and tourism industry. Many Chinese investors have come to Portugal and invested in energy and finance sectors.
Costa said the China-PSCs forum can play a key role to promote global cooperation in this mutually dependent yet fiercely competed world. Portugal is willing to support the forum and its initiatives to promote common development and prosperity of China and PSCs and their relationships, he added.
