China Vice Premier Wang Yang today announced eight measures, including 1.8 billion yuan ( US$ 293 million) in concessional loans, to assist the seven countries taking part in the Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and the Portuguese-speaking countries (PSC) in Macau. Leaders from each country spoke at the Fourth Ministerial Conference of the Forum held on November 5 and 6.
Wang said that his government would provide the money to Asian and African members of the Forum to support their economic and social development, with priority given to infrastructure facilities and production projects. China will, in addition, provide 1,800 scholarships to PSC to encourage and support student exchanges between the two sides and send another 210 medical staff to Asian and African members of the Forum over the next three years. It will also arrange training sessions in China for 2,000 people from these countries in different fields and bring into full play Macau´s role at a platform for co-operation and training.
The government will also discuss trilateral co-operation projects with PSC, with a priority on education and training, agriculture, environmental protection and new energy.
Oldemiro Baloi, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Co-operation of Mozambique, said in his speech that the private sector was very important in the development of a country. He hoped that the fund of US$1 billion, announced by the Forum in July this year, would be a tool to move forward private investment and establish public-private partnerships.
Michel Tamer, Vice Premier of Brazil, said that he hoped that trade between China and the PSC would by 2016 reach US$160 billion, up from US$128.49 billion in 2012. `It is very important now to set up in Macau a service centre for small and medium-size enterprises from PSC that the Forum wants to establish,´ he said.
Paulo Portas, Vice Premier of Portugal, said that the Forum was an excellent way to consolidate the role of Macau as a special bridge between China and the PSC. ´Its role is not only economic. Training of human resources is fundamental,´ he said. ´Portugal is a member of the European Union. This is strategic for the PSC, which should use Portugal as a bridge.´
Rui Duarte Barros, Prime Minister of Guinea-Bissau, said that his country wanted to co-operate with China in transport infrastructure, minerals, energy, agriculture, fisheries and tourism. ´We aim to create conditions for Chinese private investment in these sectors,´ he said.
Fernando La Sama de Araujo, Vice Prime Minister of Timor-Leste, said that his country´s oil fund had US$13.6 billion that could be used in the development of the country. ´We have established plans for special economic zones in Oe-cusse and Atauro and to develop the south coast as a base for the oil industry and tourism,´ he said.
Rui Mangueira, Minister of Justice and Human Rights of Angola, said that, during the last 10 years, his country had strengthened its strategic partnership with China. ´Each PSC has a unique experience that should be share in this Forum for the benefit of all,´ he said.
Humberto de Brito, Minister of Tourism, Industry and Energy of Cabo Verde, said that the results of economic and business co-operation showed that they needed to be more active in promoting business between entrepreneurs, because only they could guarantee sustainable co-operation and partnerships.(macaunews)
