On 26 July 2025, Mr. Jackson Tsui, Vice President, and Ms. Vong Sok Hei, Rosita, Secretary-General of the World Trade Center Macau Arbitration Center (hereinafter referred to as the “WTC Macau Arbitration Center”), joined the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) delegation on a business mission to Malabo, the capital of Equatorial Guinea, one of Africa’s Portuguese-speaking countries. On 29 July, they attended the "China-Portuguese-speaking Countries Business and Trade Cooperation Meeting – Malabo 2025" (hereinafter referred to as the “Forum”), jointly hosted by the Chamber of Commerce of Equatorial Guinea, the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), and IPIM.

At the Forum, Secretary-General Ms. Vong Sok Hei, Rosita, representing the WTC Macau Arbitration Center, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Mr. Don Benjamín Mitogo Bieló, President of the Cámara Oficial de Comércio, Agricultura e Florestas da Região Insular (CCRI), the official Chamber of Commerce, Agriculture and Forestry of the Insular Region of Equatorial Guinea. The MOU aims to foster collaboration between the WTC Macau Arbitration Center and business organisations in Equatorial Guinea in areas such as the promotion of international arbitration, exchange of legal information, joint training programmes, and expert referrals. This partnership will further strengthen Macao’s role as a hub for commercial dispute resolution between China and Portuguese-speaking countries.

Following the signing ceremony, Secretary-General Ms. Vong delivered a speech titled “Fostering Trade Stability: How Macao Arbitration Supports Economic Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries.” In her address, she highlighted the unique features of the Center’s services, its international positioning, and Macao’s arbitration system and related policies. She pointed out that Macao’s bilingual legal framework, multicultural environment, and the neutrality and flexibility of its arbitration procedures give the WTC Macau Arbitration Center a distinct advantage in handling Sino-Lusophone legal and commercial disputes. The presentation drew strong interest from local lawyers and other attendees.

Leveraging this new partnership, the WTC Macau Arbitration Center seeks to enhance its international profile, expand its reach in the cross-border arbitration and mediation market, and consolidate its competitive edge in the global dispute resolution sector. The Center looks forward to organising further exchange activities with CCRI to promote mutual understanding and integration of diverse legal cultures.