Full coverage: Li Meets Leaders of Portuguese-speaking Countries in Macao

China and the Portuguese-speaking countries have seen their ties upgraded in a variety of ways during the past decade.

China's trade with Portuguese speaking countries has grown quickly in the past decade. Bilateral trade began at 11 billion US dollars in 2003, and rose to 98 billion last year. That came even though commodity prices slumped.

Chinese companies have made a variety of investments in Portuguese-speaking countries as well. More than 400 Chinese companies had invested a total of 6.3 billion US dollars by 2015.

China has approved loans worth more than 6 billion yuan with favorable terms to Portuguese-speaking countries since the forum was set up in 2003. China has also trained more than 7,000 people in the sector. Premier Li Keqiang promised new measures on financial aid, medical assistance, and scholarship at this year's forum.