Pires attributed the performances to "enlightened governance and well-informed choices for education, culture and knowledge." According to him: "Cape Verde has understood that education and culture are bedrocks for socio-economic development. We therefore attached a great attention to these two areas."
 
He cited the liberalisation of various competitive sectors, noting that the country "has sustained progress in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at 5.7% between 2000 and 2007."
 
Pires also explained that the country has seen increase in its exports and strong private entrepreneurship. "We managed to maintain a surplus trade balance thanks to higher exports. We have achieved growth and all elements reinforce our desire to make Cape Verde an intermediary-income country," he added.
 
Pires also cited the significant contribution by the Cape Verdean Diaspora to the country's socio-economic development. "Due to our history, there are more Cape Verdeans and their descendants in other countries than at home. We do not neglect this factor and our progress is based on the participation of all Cape Verdeans in nation building," he stressed.
 
Pires stressed: "We are in a progressive move based on the empowerment of citizens and participation supported by democratic rule with political parties playing their role." "We have made huge progress thanks to our efforts and the support of our partners, including the African Development Bank (AfDB), but we are not yet satisfied with what we have achieved," the Cape Verdean leader added.
 
According to him: "Cape Verde is still an extremely vulnerable island. We are aware of that and are working to meet the important challenges." To that end, he said: "we have clearly chosen to diversify our foreign partners... we are interested in the African-Asian co-operation prospects."
 
Pires is in Shanghai for the AfDB's two-day annual meetings which formally opens here Wednesday. 15 May 2007 - PANA
 
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