Macao Forum: Bridging China-Lusophone Trade and Growth
MACAO — Despite the absence of a formal institutional link, the Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Macao Forum) is playing a vital role in advancing the goals of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP), according to its Secretary-General.
Marking the 30th anniversary of the CPLP on July 17, Secretary-General Ji Xianzheng stated that the Forum effectively serves as a bridge, fostering development across China, Macao, and Lusophone nations. By positioning Macao as a commercial service platform, the organization “brings Portuguese-speaking countries closer together and opens new avenues for coordination with China,” Ji said in a statement to Lusa.
Building Informal Bridges
While no official “institutional linkage” exists between the Forum and the CPLP, Ji emphasized that cooperation is already happening in practice. He noted that he maintains direct contact with the CPLP executive secretariat and regularly hosts the CPLP Executive Secretary as a guest at the Forum’s Ministerial Conferences. Additionally, the Forum has welcomed delegations from the CPLP Business Confederation.
“In practice, we carry out complementary efforts that bring concrete benefits,” Ji said. He added that any future official structured partnership would depend entirely on the “will of the 10 participants of the Forum”—China and the nine Portuguese-speaking member nations.
A Growing Influence
Since its founding by China in 2003, the Macao Forum has served as a cornerstone of Beijing’s economic diplomacy with the Lusophone world. The organization includes Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Mozambique, Portugal, São Tomé and Príncipe, Timor-Leste, and Equatorial Guinea (which joined in 2022). Guinea-Bissau remains a member of the Forum despite its current suspension from CPLP activities following a 2025 coup.
The Forum’s success is anchored in its Ministerial Conferences, typically held every three years. These summits produce Joint Action Plans that guide economic relations for the following triennium. “This allows for a stable and continuous advancement of relations, creating concrete opportunities for development,” Ji explained. The 7th Ministerial Conference is anticipated to take place in the first half of 2027.
Future Expansion?
While Macao’s role has historically focused on the Portuguese-speaking world, the region’s new leader, Sam Hou Fai, has suggested expanding this bridge to include the 21 Spanish-speaking countries.
Ji clarified that while the Secretariat has not yet received formal proposals from the Central Government or the Macao SAR Government regarding such an expansion, the body remains “willing to actively collaborate” with new initiatives, provided they align with central government guidelines and the Forum’s core mission.
For now, the Forum remains focused on consolidating “mutual trust” and ensuring that the economic benefits of the China-Lusophone partnership reach all participants.
Image: Pexels – Wang Shui
