China's Vice Premier Wu Yi said in Macao Sunday that she hoped the first economic forum between China and seven Portuguese-speaking countries going on in the Macao Special Administrative Region will serve as a trade "booster" for bilateral cooperation.

Delivering a speech at a banquet in honor of participants in the Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries, Wu expressed the wish that the forum would function as an important platform to bring closer the trade ties between China and Portuguese-speaking countries.

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

Wu pointed out that Macao shares a long history in cultural and economic exchanges with the Portuguese-speaking countries, through which it has established trade links with more than 100 countries and regions.

The opening of the forum is of special significance for Macao's role as a bridge for trade between the Chinese mainland and the Portuguese-language community, she said.

The vice premier pointed out that the Chinese government has attached great importance to the organization of the forum. She said she hoped that the participating countries would agree upon a cooperative mechanism at the forum so as to actively facilitate bilateral trade and investment, strengthen the cooperation in the areas of agriculture and infrastructure building, and expand the utilization of natural and human resources.

Vice Premier Wu Yi arrived in Macao Sunday afternoon to take part activities of the forum. Apart from attending the banquet, she also met with ministerial-level officials, who headed delegations of the Portuguese-speaking countries to the forum.
 
(Xinhua News Agency October 13, 2003)