Trade volume between China and Portuguese-speaking nations in 2007 grew 36 percent over the previous year to 46.35 billion U.S. dollars, thanks to closer cooperation in various fields between the two sides, a senior Chinese commerce official said on Monday.

Sun Tong, deputy director-general of the Department of Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao Affairs of China's Ministry of Commerce, made the remarks when attending a meeting of the Permanent Secretariat of the Forum on Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries in Macao.

Thanks to the ever deepening cooperation, "we have achieved the goal of 45 to 50 billion U.S. dollars (in trade volume between the two sides) two years in advance," said Sun.

The meeting, lasting from March 10 to 11, was attended by 50 officials from the member countries of the forum, which include China, Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Portugal and Timor-Leste.

In the previous ministerial conferences of the forum, the member nations adopted the "Action Plan for Economic and Trade Cooperation", in a bid to boost cooperation between China and the Portuguese-speaking nations based on equality and mutual trust.

Sun said under the Plan, a total of 1,200 officials and technicians from the Portuguese-speaking nations participated in various training and research programs held by China in the past five years, which was a concrete proof that China has fully implemented its commitment to the Plan.

He also pointed out that while China's gross domestic product (GDP) sustained a 10 percent growth in five consecutive years which led to ever ballooning consumption demands, the Portuguese-speaking nations, with a combined population of 230 million, also showed an evident market potential, therefore, the two sides can build on the cooperation and explore more investment opportunities.

Meanwhile, efforts are being made by both sides to boost investment and cooperation in the private sectors.

Since the current cooperation mainly focuses on inter-governmental level, the member nations will further the forum's function as a platform through which entrepreneurs from all these countries can communicate and explore investment opportunities in various fields, said Manuel Amante da Rosa, the newly appointed deputy director of the forum's secretariat.

A conference, which will be attended by entrepreneurs from the member nations, will be held in May this year in Cape Verde.

(Xinhua News Agency March 11, 2008)