The Secretary for Economy and Finance led a delegation to Beijing today (2 September) to meet with the officials of Ministry of Commerce.

The delegation would participate the third organizing meeting of the First Economic Cooperation Forum between China and the Portuguese-Speaking Countries and the third conference for CEPA between the Mainland and Macao.

In an interview before departure, Secretary Tam said the government had been accelerating the preparation of CEPA as the agreement was set to implement in the beginning of next year.

He estimated that the framework of the agreement would be set in this meeting and discussions of three sections of the agreement, namely the trade of merchandise, services, and the facilitation of trade and investment, would be intensified.

In addition, Francis Tam said the preparation of the First Economic Cooperation Forum between China and the Portuguese-Speaking Countries was on the right track.

The Forum is scheduled for 12 to 14 October in Macao.