Macao will stage a Portuguese-speaking world seminar on Sept. 22-23 to warm up the atmosphere of trade and cultural exchanges, before the opening of the high-level China-Portuguese Speaking Countries Economic and Trade Cooperation Forum in October, the organizer announced here Monday.

An organizing committee was set up to prepare for the seminar, whose topic will be the historical and cultural background of Macao and Portuguese-speaking countries, the prospect of economic and trade cooperation and the Portuguese language promotion and cultural exchanges.

Over 80 scholars from the Chinese mainland, Macao and Portuguese-speaking countries have positively responded to the seminar invitations.

Jose Maneiras, a Macao-born Portuguese and vice president of the organizing committee of the seminar, said the seminar is important to Portuguese-speaking countries in that they can better understand Macao's role as a platform for the development of economic and trade cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries.
 
 (Xinhua News Agency September 2, 2003)