Macau Business | September 2023 | Special Report | Forum Macau: 20 years on
Achievements, shortcomings and potential
Established in 2003 by the Chinese Central Government, the Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-Speaking Countries (Forum Macau) has emerged as a new mechanism in international relations, adding a multilateral layer to existing bilateral ties.
The Forum initially comprised China and seven Portuguese-speaking countries but expanded to include nine Lusophone nations with the admission of Sao Tome and Principe and Equatorial Guinea.
The then newly-formed Macau Special Administrative Region was entrusted with the mission of serving as a platform for Sino-Lusophone relations. Macau’s role has consistently received praise from both central and local authorities as trade soared, and numerous events involving thousands of officials, professionals, entrepreneurs, scholars, and artists have taken place in Macau under the auspices of Forum Macau.
However, the effectiveness of the SAR as a platform remains a subject of scrutiny. While Beijing’s directives have been consistently clear, critics point out that the city still lacks a substantial critical mass of experts and an actively engaged business community in Sino-Lusophone ties.
Two decades on, we take pulse of this project, primarily through the perspectives of scholars and businesspeople. A key takeaway from this special report is that while scholars and those connected with the Forum’s structure emphasize the project’s relevance and outcomes, business representatives tend to express a level of disappointment with the results, even as they acknowledge its significance and potential.
In the following pages, we review the outcomes and delve into diverse perspectives of experts and entrepreneurs on the achievements, shortcomings, and suggestions for the improvement of this key project, as Macau further integrates into the Greater Bay Area, a trend that is also reflected in the Forum’s activities and direction.
Co-ordinated by João Paulo Meneses [email protected]
Being a Platform: What’s in it?
It is increasingly evident that the most fruitful outcomes extend beyond the economic or commercial realm
Praise and lingering doubts
Lao Pun Lap took stock of the Sino-Lusophone platform with critical remarks and suggestions for improvement in an extensive article. The senior economist called for a new impetus to easing doubts over the project’s effectiveness.
Economic but also political
Experts point to ‘soft power’ and ‘cultural diplomacy’ as keywords to accurately understand the Forum
Portuguese language, “First Great Achievement”
Portuguese is today much more sought after than before 1999. Portugal is grateful, even though it has done little for it.
Will Brazil move past scepticism and embrace the Forum?
Brazil is by far China’s top partner among the Lusophone nations, but it has shown little interest in the Forum for most of these two decades, observers point out. How to effectively bring Brasilia on board? A recent meeting between Ho Iat Seng and Brazil’s Innovation Secretary seems to indicate interest in stronger ties.
Smaller-sized PSCs have more to gain.
Brazil and Portugal are on league of their own in terms of bilateral relations with China and Angola and even Mozambique are special cases. Amid this, Cape Verde, Sao Tome and Principe, Guinea-Bissau, and, outside Africa, East Timor are seen as the main beneficiaries of the Forum Macau
FUNDamental questions
Out of sync with business reality, closed off from information, and lacking flexibility—these are some of the criticisms that have been directed at the China-Portuguese Speaking Countries Cooperation and Development Fund since its establishment a decade ago. Making it more accessible and flexible is on the agenda of the PSC and the Forum
Export credit insurance, guarantee fund: How? When?
The last attempt to create an export credit insurance scheme was launched in October 2019 but it has been on the back burner over the pandemic
“The Forum pioneered a new model of intergovernmental cooperation”
Professor Ip Kuai Peng, the Dean of the City University of Macau’s Institute for Research on Portuguese-speaking Countries, speaks highly of the work carried out by the Forum over these 20 years
Promoting reform
If the suggestions left by the mainland experts in the External Evaluation Report are implemented, there will be a “renewed” Forum
