The “25th Anniversary of the MSAR: Insights and Future and Launch of New Research Books on Portuguese-Speaking Countries”, co-organised by the Institute for Research on Portuguese-Speaking Countries of the City University of Macau (CityU), the “Belt and Road” Portuguese-Speaking Countries Information and Country Studies Centre, and the Macau “One Belt, One Road” Research Centre and sponsored by Macao’s Education Fund, concluded in success today at CityU’s Taipa Campus. The event unveiled three academic publications: Cultural Symbols of Portuguese-Speaking Countries, Cultural Reading Collection: Portuguese-Speaking Countries, and A New Long March and Different Governance: Reviews of The 10th Anniversary of The Belt and Road Initiative and The Development of Portuguese-Speaking Countries in Africa. Experts and scholars from many Portuguese-Speaking countries (PSCs) gathered together to reflect on Macao’s achievements since its return to the motherland and discuss its future development in terms of China and PSC relationships.
The event was co-hosted by João Simões, Director of CityU’s “Belt and Road” Portuguese-Speaking Countries Information and Country Studies Centre, and Zhou Jiayuan, lecturer at the Institute for Research on Portuguese-Speaking Countries. Ji Xianzheng, Secretary-General of the Permanent Secretariat of the Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-Speaking Countries (Macao); Huang Zhihu, Deputy Director of the Research Office of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao SAR; Gao Yuan, Director of the Press and Public Diplomacy Division of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in Macao Special Administrative Region; Márcia Cordeiro Guerreiro, Representative of Portugal to the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao; António Ramos da Silva, Representative of Timor-Leste to the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao; Sam Lei, Member of the Board of Directors of the Commerce and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) of the Macao SAR Government; Tam Sio Wa, Acting Director of the Department of Tertiary Education of the Education and Youth Development Bureau (DSEDJ); Wu Tianhao, Administrative Supervisor of the Policy Research and Regional Development Bureau (DSEPDR); Carmen Amado Mendes, President of the Macau Scientific and Cultural Centre (CCCM, I.P.), Portugal; Alexandre Lobo, Vice Rector of the University of Saint Joseph; Cátia Miriam Costa, Professor of ISCTE - Lisbon University Institute; and Fátima Chimarizeni, Professor of Joaquim Chissano University in Mozambique, among other guests, attended the event.
Liu Jun, Rector of CityU, highlighted in his speech Macao’s remarkable achievements over the past 25 years since its return to the motherland, under the guidance of the “one country, two systems” policy. These achievements encompass economic prosperity, social stability, and cultural diversity, presenting itself as an exemplar of the successful implementation of this policy. He also underscored the importance of regional and national studies in China’s development and diplomatic strategies. According to him, Macao has assumed a pivotal role in the collaboration between China and PSCs, advancing international dialogues and trade and cultural exchanges, thanks to its unique policy framework. Rector Liu noted that this event inspired thoughts on how to utilise the city’s unique advantages to foster further China-PSC collaboration in the future, in addition to showcasing Macao’s exceptional achievements under the “one country, two systems” policy.
Experts delved into Macao’s progress since its return to China, its unique global positioning, and the prospect of its cooperation with PSCs, which provided a more profound interpretation of the city’s role as a bridge between China and these countries.
Vice Rector Ip Kuai Peng of CityU, also Director of the Institute for Research on Portuguese-Speaking Countries, and Director João Simões mentioned in the closing remarks that CityU’s “Belt and Road” Portuguese-Speaking Countries Information and Country Studies Centre is a think tank affiliated with the Institute for Research on Portuguese-Speaking Countries, which is dedicated to the publications and systematic research on the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the development of Macao’s role as a Sino-PSC platform, and more. As a “precise connector” between China and PSCs, Macao should strive to expand their partnership in emerging fields, deepen their collaborative efforts in key development areas, and open up new opportunities for its adequate economic diversification. In doing so, it can help share China’s story effectively and strengthen China’s global influence. He also expressed his hope that tertiary education institutions and think tanks in Macao would enhance interdisciplinary innovation and integration whilst cultivating versatile, innovative talent with both exceptional proficiency in Portuguese and practical skills to produce more high-quality research outcomes, thereby enhancing Macao’s development as a global platform.
The three newly launched publications, which cover the areas of culture, Portuguese language, and policies, provide fresh perspectives and research foundations for the Sino-PSC partnership: Cultural Symbols of Portuguese-Speaking Countries examines the global influence of cultural symbols from PSCs and demonstrates Macao’s significance as a cultural bridge by incorporating the city’s unique role in cultural exchanges between China and PSCs into the growth prospects of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Cultural Reading Collection: Portuguese-Speaking Countries, a supplementary textbook for regional and national studies of Portuguese culture and the Portuguese language, offers professional support for high-level bilinguists equipped with a certain degree of cross-cultural communication skills. A New Long March and Different Governance: Reviews of The 10th Anniversary of The Belt and Road Initiative and The Development of Portuguese-Speaking Countries in Africa dissects the positive impacts of the BRI on PSCs in Africa over the past decade and more since its inception, in addition to the new opportunities and challenges for future collaboration. As such, it also offers a reference for policymakers, scholars, entrepreneurs, and readers who are interested in the cooperation between China and PSCs.
Chen Zhenhua, representative of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in Macao Special Administrative Region; Chao Peng, Director of CityU’s Macau “One Belt, One Road” Research Centre; Associate Professors Leou Chia Hsin and Chen Hong; and Lecturer Ge Sining of the Institute for Research on Portuguese-Speaking Countries, along with the faculty and student representatives, also attended the book launch.
Source: Institute for Research on Portuguese-Speaking Countries
