Ministers from China and seven Portuguese-speaking countries gathered in Macao Sunday to explore ways of furthering their economic and trade cooperation.

 

They are attending the 2nd Ministerial Conference of the Forum on Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-Speaking Countries which opened here Sunday morning.

 

Addressing the conference, Chinese State Councilor Hua Jianmin said the cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries enjoys great potentials and has a broad prospect.

 

Chief Executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region Edmund Ho Hau Wah expressed warm welcome to all participants to the conference.

 

The Chinese delegation to the two-day conference is headed by Commerce Minister Bo Xilai.

 

The 2nd Ministerial Conference, with the theme of "Strengthening Cooperation, Common Development," will make a retrospective analysis of the implementation of the "Action Plan for Economic and Trade Cooperation" approved in the 1st conference held in 2003.

 

A string of objectives for the next three years (2007-2009) is also expected to be set.

 

A business conference, bilateral meetings and a photo exhibition on the achievements since the first conference are also scheduled.

 

The seven Portuguese-speaking countries are Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Portugal and Timor-Leste.

 

(Xinhua News Agency September 24, 2006)