News

        The China-Portugal Longevity Health Science and Technology R&D Alliance was inaugurated on October 28 at the University of Saint Joseph in Macao, alongside its first summit forum. Professor Wu Yao, Vice Dean of Soochow University's School of Architecture and Deputy Director of the China-Portugal "Belt and Road" Joint Laboratory on Cultural Heritage Conservation Science, attended the event to expand collaboration with Portuguese-speaking countries and Macao.

        During the conference, Wu held meetings with key officials including Mr. Cheong Chok Man, Director of the Macao SAR Government's Policy Research and Regional Development Bureau; Ms. Tam Sio Wa, Head of the Department of Education and Youth Development; and Mr. Li Ziwei, Deputy Secretary-General of the China-Portugal Forum Permanent Secretariat. He presented the Joint Laboratory's vision as a national-level platform co-founded by Soochow University, the University of Évora, and the City University of Macau, emphasizing its role in bridging cultural heritage conservation between China and Portugal while fostering people-to-people connections.

        Professor Wu Yao held talks with Professor Paulo Quaresma, Rector Representative for China Affairs and former Vice Rector of the University of Évora, a key co-founder of the Joint Laboratory. They reviewed past collaborations and reached new consensus on deepening cooperation in urban heritage conservation, new material applications, and heritage education. Both sides agreed to launch more substantive projects.Wu also met with representatives from the University of Minho, University of Aveiro, University of Algarve, and University of Madeira, establishing initial connections with Portugal's top academic institutions.

        Building on this momentum with Portuguese partners, Wu also turned his focus to leveraging Macao's unique platform role. Wu engaged in discussions with local scholars including Professor Zhang Shuguang from the University of Saint Joseph, Professor Cai Zhiming from the Sino-Western Innovation Institute, and Professor Francisco Vizeu Pinheiro from the Macao Municipal Affairs Bureau. The parties agreed to integrate Macao's role as a China-Portugal cooperation platform with the Joint Laboratory's research and talent cultivation capabilities. This synergy aims to address cultural heritage conservation needs across Portugal, Macao, and mainland China while exploring models for research commercialization and technical standard development.

        The conference marked a strategic step for the Joint Laboratory to expand its global reach. Through high-level dialogues, it deepened mutual trust with Portuguese and Macao partners while broadening international collaborations—underscoring its role as a leading platform for Sino-Portuguese cooperation. Moving forward, the laboratory will leverage the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area as a strategic anchor. Building on its tripartite partnership, it aims to become a premier hub for cultural heritage conservation between China and Portugal, contributing to the Belt and Road Initiative and the vision of a shared global future.