CityU hosts forum to enhance China-PSCs platform and foster Macao’s role as an international metropolis

The “Forum of Academics from Portuguese-Speaking Countries at the City University of Macau: Strengthening International and External Links, Building a High-Level Sino-Lusophone Platform” was co-organized recently by the Institute for Research on Portuguese-Speaking Countries (IROPC), the Macao “One Belt, One Road” Research Center, the Research Center for Macau Social and Economic Development (RCMSED) of the City University of Macau (CityU) at its Golden Dragon campus. The forum was attended by Ip Kuai Peng, vice rector of CityU and members from the Permanent Secretariat of Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Macao), known as Forum Macao, including Danilo Afonso Henriques, deputy secretary-general; Agostinho João António dos Santos, representative from Angola; Nuno Miguel Melo Furtado, representative from Cape Verde; Abdú Jaquité, representative from Guinea-Bissau; Márcia Cordeiro Guerreiro, representative from Portugal; António Ramos da Silva, representative from Timor-Leste; Francisco Leandro, associate professor of Faculty of Social Sciences at University of Macau; and representatives of CityU, namely Chao Peng, director of Macao “One Belt, One Road” Research Center; José Paulo Esperança, associate dean of Faculty of Business; Zhou Long, associate dean of Graduate School; Vera Borges, associate professor of Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences; and João Simões, assistant professor of IROPC. 

Vice Rector Ip Kuai Peng emphasized IROPC’s commitment to serving as an “academic Silk Road” connecting China and Portuguese Speaking Countries (PSCs), particularly amidst increasing globalization and international cooperation. He outlined three key strategies aligned with Macao’s Policy Address for the Fiscal Year 2025, and Outline of the Medium- and Long-Term Development of Higher Education in Macao (2021–2030):  

• First, innovate talent cultivation models through joint programs with renowned international higher education institutions in Portugal and Brazil, while integrate Greater Bay Area resources to nurture interdisciplinary talents with strong language proficiency, technological literacy, and global vision;  

• Second, expand international academic networks through scholar visits, research collaborations, and student exchanges, attracting outstanding students from PSCs and countries/regions along the Belt and Road Initiative to study in Macao, fostering a multicultural academic environment; 
• Third, promote innovative research collaboration by deepening partnerships with technology companies in the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, leveraging the opportunity of the Centre for Science and Technology Exchange and Cooperation between China and Portuguese-Speaking Countries, and facilitate the application of research findings in tourism, healthcare sectors to enhance Macao’s productivity.  

Vice Rector Ip said these initiatives would not only enrich Macao’s strategic role as “one center, one platform, one base” but also would build community with a shared future for mankind through higher education. 

 

Deputy Secretary-General Danilo Afonso Henriques highlighted multi-faceted approaches to promote Macao’s development of appropriate economic diversification and sustainability:  

• Establish a Renminbi clearing center to strengthen Macao’s role as a trade and financial services hub between China and PSCs; 

• Develop digital trade and e-commerce platforms with blockchain technology; incubating small and medium enterprises through joint ventures and innovation funds;  

• Strengthen green economic cooperation through green development funds supporting renewable energy projects;  

• Create cultural tourism investment featuring Belt and Road Initiative themed routes.  

He advocated to enhance Macao’s position as a gateway for Sino-Lusophone trade and the World Centre of Tourism and Leisure, leveraging Macao’s bilingual legal system government-level host summits, and establishing investment channels. 

Associate Professor Francisco Leandro addressed policy considerations for reducing Macao’s economic reliance on the gaming industry and promoting tourism, finance, and technology sectors, emphasizing the importance of synergy between government and society for the sustainability of social and economic development. He noted existing policies for promoting innovation, supporting SMEs, and attracting foreign investment, which provided strong support for the achievement of appropriate economic diversification and resilient and inclusive shared economy. He advocated collaborative efforts from all sectors to contribute to Macao’s development of appropriate economic diversification and sustainability. 

 

Director Chao Peng highlighted the Macao “One Belt, One Road” Research Center’s role as Macao’s sole academic institution dedicated to the Belt and Road Initiative. Relying on the Sino-Portuguese platform to explore in-depth studies, he noted the center’s contributions to policy advice, including branding strategies, development pathways, and international cooperation. He mentioned the establishment of postgraduate internship bases in Nansha, Hengqin, Dongguan, Wuxi, Angola, Portugal, and Mozambique, and the organization of academic conferences related to “One Belt, One Road” and PSCs, noting the roles to collaboration with the government to promote the Belt and Road Initiative in PSCs and strengthen Macao’s unique positionings of “one center, one platform, one base”. 

 

Associate Dean José Paulo Esperança discussed the growing trade and investment cooperation between China and PSCs, highlighting the significant opportunity for economic growth. He suggested leveraging innovative systems to support entrepreneurship and optimize corporate financing, playing a crucial role as a connector. He advocated for Macao to capitalize on its unique advantages and stimulate financial innovation, offering flexible financing solutions based on company revenue performance, and suggested that Macao could integrate resources and expertise to promote mutual investment and experience sharing between mainland China, Macao, and PSCs, and establish international investment funds in high-tech and infrastructure sectors to solidify Macao’s position as a regional financial hub. 

 

Associate Dean Zhou Long focused on the ecological management and sustainability of the Zhuhai-Macao marine ranch and pointed that higher education institutions of Macao and PSCs should promote collaboration in research to address development challenges and achieve multi-faceted innovation, integrating international advanced practices with local conditions to refine ecological models, innovate data processing algorithms, and develop integrated monitoring systems. He also suggested exploring the value of Sino-Lusophone marine culture to develop unique tourism products, using the sustainable development of the Zhuhai-Macao marine ranch as a global model. 

 

Associate Professor Vera Borges, used the question “What does language carry?” to begin her address, discussing Macao’s profound impact as a bridge between Chinese and Portuguese cultures on university cooperation between the two sides. She analyzed the role of Portuguese language in Macao’s internationalization strategy, highlighting the importance of Portuguese language teaching and research, and its indispensable role in promoting economic development and cultural communication, which further showcasing the unique value of the Portuguese language in deepening international exchanges and cooperations, thereby promoting Macao’s diversified development. 

 

Assistant Professor João Simões concluded the forum by highlighting the diverse perspectives shared by experts and scholars on optimizing Macao’s platform development. He emphasized Macao’s Portuguese language advantage and its role as a “super-connector”, advocating for strengthened HEIs collaborations and industry-academia partnerships to drive technological and financial innovation. He expressed his hope that the Macao SAR government would further enhance the city’s international influence through collaborative efforts across government, society, business, and academia, contributing to continued stability, prosperity, and achievement. 

 

Source: Graduate School