Portuguese-speaking nations find opportunity

Special seminars at conference focused on getting the best out of nation's relations

Portuguese-speaking countries at the 2019 China International Fair for Trade in Services saw more business opportunities in China, experts said at a seminar on Wednesday.

The Seminar on the Cooperation and Development between China and the Portuguese-speaking Countries was hosted by a Portugal-based nonprofit association, the China-Lusofonia-Ibero-America-Caribe Association, also known as CCLI.

It has been serving as a bridge between companies in China and Portuguese-speaking countries to promote cooperation in such areas as investment, trade and people exchanges since its founding in 2012.

CCLI now has thousands of members in China and hundreds of members in Portugal.

Representatives of the Portuguese embassy in China, the Portuguese-speaking countries' embassies in China and dozens of members of CCLI held discussions about bilateral collaborations and exchanges in the near future.

According to Cai Hong, vice-president of CCLI, this year marks the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Portugal, the 20th anniversary of Macao's return and the second time CCLI attends CIFTIS.

"Portugal is a good springboard for Chinese companies to extend into the European market. Through CIFTIS, more enterprises and countries will better understand Portugal, and more cooperative projects can be fostered," Cai said.

In recent years, personnel exchanges and economic collaboration between China and Portugal as well as Portuguese-speaking countries have been active.

Over 340,000 Chinese people live in Portugal and many Chinese investors are expanding their businesses in the European country, with mergers and acquisitions of local companies.

For example, China Three Gorges is planning to take over Portugal's Energias de Portugal to gain control of its power utility.

"Some products made in Portuguese-speaking countries such as red wine, cork and olive oil are of high quality but low profile," Cai said. "Forums like CIFTIS and the China International Import Expo are just providing platforms for those to go into China."

"Portugal also hopes to introduce Chinese investment to upgrade its own industries. For example, China has taken huge steps to boost the new energy vehicle industry and develop cutting-edge automotive technologies. That's what Portugal can learn," Cai added.

CCLI is also pushing the envelope to see how to improve cultural exchanges. This May, CCLI invited Chinese artists to attend a contemporary art parallel exhibition in Venice during the 58th International Art Exhibition, one of the oldest and most prestigious art events in the world, founded in 1895.

yinruowei@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 05/31/2019 page12)