Former Forum Macao executive calls for expanding China-Lusophone fund

Manuel Amante da Rosa, the former deputy secretary-general of the China-Lusophone Forum in Macau, has called for the expansion of the China-Lusophone fund, the public broadcaster has reported.

Da Rosa voiced this opinion at a seminar celebrating the Forum’s 20-year anniversary, concurrently held with the China-Lusophone Expo over the weekend, according to public broadcaster TDM-Radio Macau (Portuguese).

The former executive of the Forum emphasized the necessity of expanding the fund and recommended that the conditions for accessing funding be relaxed to make it more accessible. He called for a reduction in the interest rate, which currently stands at 8%.

He suggested that the Fund be managed by a Board of Directors, which should include a Portuguese speaking expert in development and international trade.

He said the inauguration of the fund “was a summit point for the Forum.” However, he noted that it had so far only benefitted a select group of Forum members.

Da Rosa also believed that the creation of new and innovative financial tools is crucial to truly promote financial cooperation and have an impact on all Forum members.

The high-level symposium and exhibition opened Friday in the SAR to mark the 20th founding anniversary of Forum Macao.

Meanwhile, Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng said in his address that Forum Macao has fully leveraged Macau’s distinctive advantages in connecting China with Portuguese-speaking countries (PSCs) and effectively promoted exchange and cooperation between both sides, focusing on economic and trade cooperation.

Ho noted that over the past two decades, Forum Macao has served as an important platform and link for China and PSCs to conduct mutually beneficial and friendly cooperation, increasingly becoming a force for advancing all-round cooperation. 

He stressed that this is yet another important initiative to enhance Macau’s advantages arising from its status as a Special Administrative Region, to promote adequate diversification of its economy. 

He said the Cooperation Zone will contribute to the development and enrichment of Macau’s role in expanding and strengthening the Sino-Lusophone Platform.

Ji Xianzheng, secretary-general of the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao, said the forum has aided coordination between various parties to improve economic and trade cooperation between China and PSCs, making tremendous achievements in trade, investment, industrial development and people-to-people exchanges.

Cape Verdean Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and Regional Integration Rui Alberto de Figueiredo Soares suggested that the forum play a more active role, with a focus on areas such as cultural and tourism promotion, attracting investment, holding business meetings and promoting market access.

The related exhibition, which runs to Dec. 20, reviews the development of the forum during the past two decades, and showcases the forum’s contribution to the exchanges and cooperation between China and the PSCs. AL/Xinhua