About 500 entrepreneurs from China and Portuguese-speaking countries gathered here Wednesday to explore trade opportunities.

The delegates are from Portugal, Brazil, Angola, Mozambique, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, East Timor, the Chinese mainland and China's Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR).

Portuguese Minister of Economy Vieira da Silva attended the meeting.

Zhang Wei, vice president of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, told the meeting that Chinese entrepreneurs hope to deepen cooperation with Portugal and other Portuguese-speaking countries, especially in areas such as tourism, agriculture, energy and health.

"We hope that Europe can overcome this economic crisis soon," he said,adding that the situation "has great influence on the Chinese exports and the yuan (the Chinese currency), as well as the U.S. dollar. "

Delegates said the meeting has economic importance, for it generates business.

According to the latest official data, the trade volume between China and Portuguese-speaking countries increased 91 percent year-on-year in April, despite the global financial crisis.