LUANDA, March 28 (Xinhuanet) -- Executives of enterprises from China and Portuguese-speaking countries here on Monday started an economic and commercial cooperation forum.

The forum, with participation of 557 firms, was inaugurated by Angolan Prime Minister Fernando Dias dos Santos.

Dong Songgen, general secretary of China Council for Promotion of International Trade, said at the opening ceremony that China pays important attention to economic and commercial cooperation with Portuguese-speaking countries, which have a total population of over 200 million in the world.

The forum, on the basis of two guiding documents signed in October 2003 in Macao between the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries (CPLP) and China, will discuss issues on economic and commercial cooperation. It will also focus on globalization and the effect of rapid economic growth in China.

Firms from China, Angola, Brazil, Portugal, Mozambique, Cape Verde and Guinea-Bissau have sent executives to the three-day meeting. Enditem