The key themes of the meeting were the Economy of the Sea, green energy and energy transition, maritime logistics and creativity and innovation.
The Mayor of Viana do Castelo, Luís Nobre, met yesterday with the Ambassador of China in Portugal, Zhao Bentang, having the meeting had as key themes the Economy of the Sea, green energy and energy transition, Maritime Logistics and also creativity and innovation.
The Chinese delegation, led by the Ambassador, visited Viana do Castelo, local companies and activities, namely shipbuilding and repair and metalworking.
To the mayor of Viana, Zhao Bentang recognized that Viana do Castelo has made a leap in all areas, highlighting economic development and believing that the capital of Alto Minho is at the forefront of the blue economy, energy issues, development and creativity, areas in which China is also very interested. The Ambassador said that he sees Viana do Castelo, in geostrategic terms, as a gateway to Europe and a connection point with Asia.
He said he was therefore interested in creating a working platform led by the Municipality of Viana do Castelo and the Embassy to establish a networking space with Portuguese and Chinese companies.
At the meeting, it was also evident that research and development is another common ground between Viana do Castelo and the Embassy. The Mayor presented the Technological Center for Ocean Energies and Technologies, which the municipality is developing in partnership with the Polytechnic Institute of Viana do Castelo.
Luís Nobre also presented the Sea Agenda 20-30, which aims to attract public and private investments in the order of 1,000 million euros to Viana do Castelo over this decade.
The meeting was attended by the Chinese delegation, the Economic and Trade Counsellor and a representative of the CCS – China Classification Society. CCS, founded in 1956 in Beijing, already has 60 government authorizations from major international transport countries or regions and has 120 offices worldwide. It is the only professional organization in China to provide classification services and aims to provide services to the shipping, shipbuilding, offshore development and manufacturing industries related to marine insurance.
It provides legal services to ships and offshore facilities, for safeguarding the safety of life and property at sea and for preventing contamination of the ocean environment.
On the part of the representative, the availability to integrate the Technological Center in Ocean Energies and Technologies, to be born in Viana do Castelo, on the CCS platform, was indicated.
This action of institutional diplomacy is among the objectives of the Municipality, which, in this way, makes known the potential and strategies that it has defined in fundamental areas such as the economy, the economy of the sea, the environment and sustainability.
