On the evening of November 24th, 2021 (Beijing time), the Seminar on Trade Promotion for Portuguese-Speaking Countries sponsored by the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China and organized by the MOFCOM Training Base for International Business Officials (Shanghai) of Shanghai Business School ushered in the online closing ceremony. Mr. Fang Meng from the Division of Foreign Economic Cooperation, Shanghai Municipal Commission and Mr. Chen Wei , Executive Vice Dean of the College of International Education, Shanghai Business School attended the ceremony.
Mr. Chen Wei pointed out that during the 20 years after China’s accession to the WTO, China has become a major trading partner of more than 120 countries and regions, and has made significant contributions to world economic growth at the average annual rate of close to 30%. China has opened its door wider and wider. Through constructing pilot free trade zones and free trade ports, continuously reducing the negative list of foreign investment access, and promoting the joint construction of the Belt and Road, China has taken practical actions to advance the building of a Community with a Shared Future for Mankind. He emphasized that this Seminar is a new starting point for mutual learning in the field of trade as well as a link for continuously warming the friendly relations between China and the Portuguese-speaking countries.
Marie Enera de Loyola, Director of the Partnership and Small Business Support Departmen from the Office of Economic Development of the State of Minas Geras of Brazil, stated that Brazil has more than 18 million companies, while 99.1% are micro and small companies that have create 55% job opportunities. The Seminar is undoubtedly of great significance to the promotion of trade development. She hopes that Brazil can follow China’s example in carefully designing policies supporting small and micro enterprises, promoting economic development and reducing social inequality.
From the perspective of African economic growth, Nilza David, a senior technician of the Investment and Export Promotion Agency of Mozambique, sincerely expressed his gratitude to China for the efforts. He believes that Mozambique, with the active help of the Chinese government, will further optimize its business environment, and the world economy will certainly enter a new era of more openness.
On behalf of the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce, Mr. Fang Meng expressed his warm congratulations. He said that in the context of the global COVID-19 pandemic, this online Seminar has overcome various difficulties to usher in the successful conclusion, further suggesting a broad prospect and huge potential between China and Portuguese-speaking countries in the field of trade cooperation. Promisingly, he hopes all the participants will use what they have learned to promote trade development in their countries, so as to drive economic globalization and achieve mutual benefit and win-win results.
The 14-day Seminar enrolled 42 government officials and business executives from 4 countries including Brazil, Mozambique, Cape Verde, and Sao Tome and Principe. As one of the CIIE-related thematic projects organized by Shanghai Business School, the Seminar aims to cultivate talents in the trade field for Portuguese-speaking countries, carry out trade exchanges between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, and promote multi- and bilateral cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries.
Written by: Guan Rui
Photogrophed by:Shi Xiaomei
Reviewer: Chen Wei
