Domingos Bragança discussed with the top Chinese diplomat the future of economic and cultural relations between the People’s Republic of China and Guimarães.
At the end of the afternoon of Thursday 23rd February, the Mayor of Guimarães, Domingos Bragança, met with the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Portugal, Zhao Bentang, the Secretary General of the Portuguese-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Bernardo Mendia, and the Secretary General of the Portugal-Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Carlos Torres, to promote economic and cultural cooperation between Guimarães and China, followed by a protocol session at the City Hall.
In the protocol speeches, the Mayor of Guimarães, Domingos Bragança, highlighted the historical character of Guimarães and emphasised the development axes of the territory, highlighting culture, education, science and knowledge as relevant factors for cooperation opportunities between Guimarães and China. The Mayor mentioned biomedicine and aerospace as two areas in which Guimarães can make an important contribution at international level, and said that he was “open to cooperation that includes the cultural component as well as the economic component”. “We will seek to promote partnerships that can lead to new ventures in cutting-edge technological areas or to cooperation between existing companies. This is the future path we want to follow,” said Domingos Bragança.
Zhao Bentang, Chinese Ambassador to Portugal, expressed China’s interest in collaborating with Guimarães in the field of biomedicine, but also in other emerging areas, highlighting the fact that Guimarães has been chosen by the European Union as a pilot city for climate neutrality. “We want to strengthen trade relations between China and Guimarães and conclude bilateral agreements. This cooperation, according to Zhao Bentang, will have all the institutional support of the Chinese Embassy in Portugal.
At the end of the protocol interventions, Domingos Bragança and Zhao Bentang exchanged souvenirs, symbolically marking this future relationship between Guimarães and China, which is expected to be fruitful.
Zhao Bentang came to Guimarães as part of an event promoted by the Wine and Commerce Club and organised in Guimarães by Fabrice Lachize, President of the Luso-French Chamber of Commerce and Industry, an opportunity for networking and evaluating business opportunities.