TEXT Christian Ritter
China will grant preferential loans to Portuguese‑speaking African and Asian members countries of Forum Macao
Upon the opening of the Fifth Ministerial Conference of the Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese‑speaking countries, Premier Li Keqiang announced that China will grant a minimum of RMB2 billion (US$300 million) in preferential loans to Portuguese‑speaking African and Asian countries who are members of Forum Macao.
Premier Li clarified that these loans are intended to promote the productive capacity of their beneficiary countries and strengthen further cooperation in terms of building infrastructure within such Portuguese‑speaking nations.
Premier Li also announced a donation of RMB2 billion to African and Asian member countries of the Forum – Angola, Cabo Verde, Guinea‑Bissau, Mozambique and Timor‑Leste (East Timor) – to be used in improving civil wellbeing, particularly with regards to agriculture, the prevention of malaria, and research into traditional Chinese medicine.
Additionally, the Chinese government will pardon debts due on interest‑free loans granted to Forum Macao African and Asian member countries in the amount of RMB500 million.
One of the support measures announced by Premier Li aims to strengthen exchange and cooperation regarding health, particularly that of mothers and children: Premier Li also reaffirmed China’s dedication to sending medical teams to member countries as needed.
Another measure details that China will provide 2,000 training positions in various sectors and grant 2,500 scholarships in China annually.
Premier Li reiterated China’s support for Macao’s transformation into a financial services platform, building upon the role that the territory has played as a conduit between China and Portuguese‑speaking countries.
Macao will be acting headquarters of the Association of Enterprise Directors of China and Portuguese‑speaking countries, and will also host a training centre for Portuguese‑Chinese bilingual professionals. China will reserve 30 positions in the mainland’s training courses with official certification.
Additionally, Macao will be home to the Cultural Exchange Centre, the Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurship Centre between China and Portuguese‑speaking countries. As well as the Complex of Commerce and Trade Cooperation for China and Portuguese‑speaking countries, which was inaugurated by the Chinese Premier and prime minister. This complex is intended to provide substantial support for cooperation among Forum Macao members in the areas of trade, investment, conventions and exhibitions, and cultural activities.
The Fund for Development Cooperation between China and Portuguese‑speaking countries, currently being operated out of Beijing, will transfer its headquarters to Macao in order to facilitate contact with interested parties. Talks will soon begin with the Macao government regarding how to ensure the fund’s operation and what kind of structure would work locally. The fund’s president Chi Jianxin hopes that the transfer will happen before the end of 2016.
The US$1 billion fund, announced during the Fourth Ministerial Conference of Forum Macao in 2013, is a joint initiative of the China Development Bank and the Macau Industrial and Commercial Development Fund (FDIC). The first installment of US$125 million was provided by these two parties: China Development Bank Capital Corporation Ltd. with US$75 million and the FDIC with US$50 million. Operation and management of the fund will be the responsibility of the China‑Africa Development Fund, which is part of the China Development Bank.
The fund will focus on the investment and financing needs of mainland Chinese companies (including those based in Macao) and those in Portuguese‑speaking countries, placing emphasis on supporting the establishment of companies from mainland China and Macao in Portuguese‑speaking markets and attracting companies from such countries to develop inside of China.
The Fund for Development Cooperation between China and Portuguese‑speaking countries, currently being operated out of Beijing, will transfer its headquarters to Macao in order to facilitate contact with interested parties
The Fifth Ministerial Conference of the Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese‑speaking countries was held on the 11th and 12th of October 2016. The event was not only attended by the Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang but also by the Prime Minister of Cabo Verde José Ulisses Correia e Silva, Prime Minister of Guinea‑Bissau Baciro Dja, Prime Minister of Mozambique Carlos Agostinho do Rosário, Prime Minister of Portugal António Costa, Minister of Economy of Angola Abrahão Gourgel of Angola, Minister of Industry and Foreign Trade and Services of Brazil Marcos Pereira and Minister of State, Coordinator of Economic Affairs and Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries of Timor‑Leste, Estanislau Aleixo da Silva. Representation for Sao Tome and Principe, also a Portuguese‑speaking country, was absent as it is not a member of Forum Macao.
Forum Macao was established in 2003 by China´s Ministry of Commerce with the aim of strengthening relations with Portuguese‑speaking countries utilising Macao as a strategic platform.
Cabo Verde is committed to be an international service centre, supported by a rapidly growing tourist market and positioning that creates conditions to access markets in Africa, Europe and the Americas
José Ulisses Correia e Silva
Prime Minister of Cabo Verde
Tourism and agriculture are the potential markets of the country
Baciro Dja
Prime Minister of Guinea‑Bissau
Cooperation with China is important in areas, that are attractive for investment, such as infrastructure, agriculture, energy and manufacturing industry
Carlos Agostinho do Rosario
Prime Minister of Mozambique
Portugal and China must join “forces” to promote triangular cooperation with other Portuguese‑speaking countries in sectors such as agriculture, infrastructure and education
António Costa
Prime Minister of Portugal
Need more awareness of Forum Macao’s role among businesspeople from the Portuguese‑speaking countries to allow an increase in China’s cooperation with them
Abrahão Gourgel
Minister of Economy of Angola
Chinese businessmen are invited to invest in Brazil in areas such as energy, infrastructures, airports, seaports, railway lines and mines that will soon be open for tenders
Marcos Pereira
Minister of Industry and Foreign Trade and Services of Brazil
Priority is the consolidation and sustainability of the economy, diversifying priority sectors, attracting investment and creating stable jobs in downstream activities in the oil industry, agriculture, fisheries, tourism and industry
Estanislau Aleixo da Silva
Minister of State, Coordinator of Economic Affairs and Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries of Timor Leste
18 Measures
China announced 18 new measures during the Fifth Ministerial Conference of the Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese‑speaking countries
