The economic and trade cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries has continued to grow steadily recently, showing strong resilience and development potential, a forum in Macao heard on June 19.

In fact, this has laid a good foundation for deepening infrastructure cooperation between the two sides, according to speakers at the 10th Forum of Infrastructure Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries & Business Meeting of Infrastructure Cooperation between Macao, Shandong and Portuguese-speaking countries.

The forum — which was attended by diplomats, experts and other guests — focused on the hot topic of green innovation and transformation of infrastructure, incorporating elements of Shandong province as a major province in contracting projects and manufacturing equipment. Speakers at the forum were invited to examine various ways to strengthen cooperation in the fields of green technology, digital economy, green finance and clean energy.

The event was also aimed at stimulating green and low-carbon development of infrastructure in the Chinese mainland, Macao and Portuguese-speaking countries, and sharing opportunities for cooperation in new infrastructure projects.

Ambassador Maria Gustava, head of Portuguese-speaking Countries' Diplomatic Corps in China, noted that these nations are in urgent need of developing infrastructure such as energy, water, roads, bridges, railways, housing, and telecommunications. Such infrastructure will not only help to meet the people's basic needs, but also to enable these countries to truly participate in international trade, and to embrace the new concept of infrastructure construction in the digital age.

"Therefore, we are ready to cooperate with China, a strong and trusted partner," Gustava said in a speech delivered via video link.