Macao As A Service Platform For The Economic Co-operation Between China And Portuguese-speaking Countries

With the interaction and co-existence of economic globalization and regional economic co-operation, as well as the development of information and communication technologies, regional economic co-operation has surpassed the natural links formed by"neighboring countries", heading expansion in cross-regional blocs. Since China's accession to the WTO, the national economy has been exposed to ever-increasing shock waves from outside in the course of its integration with the global marketplace, whereas regional economic co-operation, to some extent, provides a haven from the eventual risks of globalization, helping, at the same time, to reduce disputes with the main economic blocs in the process of China's peaceful rejuvenation. Therefore, active involvement in cross-regional economic co-operation will be a strategic solution, by which China can adapt to the advancement of economic globalization.Mainland China and Portuguese-speaking countries are not only gifted with complementary natural resources, the position of the various countries and their sphere of influence that extends to various regional economic co-operation organizations including the European Union (EU), Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR), South African Development Community (SADC) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), are also a source of immeasurable political and economic potential in the context of cross-regional economic co-operation between them and China. The two sides are expected to set up an international co-operation framework perceived as multi-lateral and beneficial for all involved. As for Macao, it is endowed with advantages in language, culture, business environment, access to information and services to name a few, thus placing it in the perfect position becoming a platform for economic interchanges between the two sides.The thesis is based on theoretical analysis and compiled in accordance with factual evidence and current policies. In the context of cross-regional economic co-operation becoming a new trend in global economic development, the thesis adopts the method of combining theory with evidence and systematically expounds the strategic positioning of Macao in cross-regional economic co-operation conducted between China and Portuguese-speaking countries. Also, from the viewpoint of linking historical and logical aspects, namely that Macao is well placed to become a service platform for the economic co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries. In the first place, the thesis probes the new trends in global economic development, i.e. the evolution of cross-regional economic co-operation, in which the background of the weaknesses and strengths of Macao in the said cross-regional co-operation are analyzed according to the SWOT method. Then the article explores the main content of China's new round of foreign economic co-operation and its influence on Macao. Based on this, the article expounds further the history, the current status and the characteristics in the development of economic relations between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, leading to an analysis of the necessity, possibility and existing obstacles in the implementation of cross-regional economic co-operation between the two sides. Finally, the thesis explores the strategic positioning of Macao in cross-regional economic co-operation conducted between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, namely to become a service platform, and provides strategic recommendations to accomplish this.