Premier Li Keqiang will arrive for a three-day inspection tour of Macau on Monday, Xinhua said in a brief dispatch on Monday.
It will be Li’s first official visit to Macau.
The national newswire also said that during his stay Li will attend the opening ceremony of the 5th Ministerial Conference of the Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries.
Shortly after the Xinhua dispatch, the local government said in a statement that it was “immensely delighted” to host Li’s visit.
The statement said the visit was proof of the central government’s “strong support and great attention” to Macau, “resulting in a very great incentive.”
According to the statement, the local government expects the conference to further consolidate and strengthen Macau’s role and position as a service platform for economic and trade co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries.
In a separate statement, the local government said that four foreign prime ministers were scheduled to attend the conference: Cape Verde’s Jose Ulisses Correia e Silva, Guinea-Bissau’s Baciro Dja, Mozambique’s Carlos Agostinho do Rosario and Portugal’s Antonio Costa.
Angola, Brazil and East Timor will be represented by cabinet ministers: Angola by Economy Minister Abrahao Gourgel, Brazil by Industry, External Trade and Services Minister Marcos Pereira and East Timor by Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Estanislau Aleixo da Silva, who also holds the rank of Minister of State – Economic Affairs Co-ordinator.
Due to its lack of diplomatic relations with Beijing, Sao Tome and Principe is the only Portuguese-speaking country that once again will not take part in the triennial conference.
Li will attend a welcome dinner on Monday evening. The opening ceremony of the forum will be chaired by Commerce Minister Gao Hucheng the next morning. The ministerial conference will take place next Tuesday afternoon.
A conference by businesspeople and finance sector representatives from the participating countries and a press conference are slated for next Wednesday.
The three-day event will also include the cornerstone laying ceremony for a building which will house all the forum’s local facilities and services.
The forum, which was set up in 2003, was held in 2003, 2006, 2010 and 2013. (Macau News/The Macau Post Daily)
