Today, 24 August 2022, the Institute for Research on Portuguese-speaking Countries (IROPC/CityU Macau), organized (ONLINE) the 4^th international academic symposium, dedicated to multilateral, trilateral and bilateral cooperation between China-Angola and Portugal.

The City University Rector Professor Jun Liu, mentioned that this symposium received a strong contribution and support of the Angola Consulate in MSAR, as well as the Joaquim Chissano University in Mozambique. This event is a token of the synergies on international institutional cooperation for common benefit, having in mind the Greater Bay Area and all 9 Portuguese-speaking Countries. Rector Liu concluded wishing that this academic investment will be reinforced and extended in the future.

The Vice-Consul of Angola Dr. Estanislau dos Santos, in representation of Ambassador Eduardo Galiano, emphasized the importance and the role of Forum Macau, namely the extension of its supporting action to culture and academics. Dr. Estanislau further praised the institutional cooperation and wish that the next book can be completed in 2023, covering the main topic of the symposium. He concluded wishing that more students from Angola can benefit from this cooperation. 

Rector and Professor José Magode from Mozambique, stressed the importance of academic international cooperation, as well as the need to bring it into a meaningful synergetic result.

Dr. Rodrigo Brum, the former Deputy-Secretary of Forum Macau, asserted that is the right time to fully explore the potential of Angola, for mutual benefit, to create a platform for academic study to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine, in the context of China- on Portuguese-speaking Countries. He further called the attention to the importance of interpersonal relations as a multiplier of synergetic relations.

The distinguished lecture was delivered by Professor Carmen Mendes, from the University of Coimbra (Portugal), President of the Macau Scientific and Cultural Center in Lisbon. Professor Carmen praised the organization of this symposium and identified the major challenges of the economic, investment, technological, industrial and academic cooperation, as well as the possibilities offered by bilateral and trilateral cooperation. The diversification of the exports profiles, the transition to a low carbon economy, the social agenda, and the sustainability, were among the most challenging aspects of the future cooperation for mutual benefit.

The Vice-Rector Professor Ip Kuai Peng and Dean of the Institute for Research on Portuguese-speaking Countries (IROPC/CityU Macau), mentioned the importance of this 4th international academic symposium as a significant milestone to the study of all Portuguese-speaking countries and their relations with China and MSAR, in the context of the Greater Bay Area and conveyed gratitude for the support received from MSAR Government and the High Education Fund.

The Associate Professor Francisco B. S. José Leandro and Associate Dean of the Institute for Research on Portuguese-speaking Countries (IROPC/CityU Macau), said that today’s symposium gathers 36 scholars from China, Italy, Nigeria, Brazil, Angola and Portugal, will be the first step to the volume 4 of a collection with 9 volumes, edited as conference proceedings. He further added that the IROPC, since its inception is devoted to academic production and, therefore, the 3 volume launched today, gathers 29 scholars from China, MSAR, São Tomé and Principe, Nigeria, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique and Portugal. 

The IROPC is planning to make available a collection of 9 publications on Portuguese-speaking countries and their relations with China and MSAR, to stand as comprehensive resource of documents for research and to support students. In this context, the IROPC/CityU Macau, would like to extend sincere gratitude for all the support received from the Government of MSAR.

For more information on the conference, please click on the following link: /en/uploads/userfiles/2022_Program_Symposium_Draft_31.pdf