The Chief Executive of Macau Chui Sai On said Monday that his government continues to “support and strength the historical relations” with Portugal, and said that the Portuguese community contributes to the city’s prosperity.
Speaking at the reception of the Portuguese National Day Chui Sai On recalled the success of the recent visit of Portuguese President Cavaco Silva to China and Macau.
According to Lusa portuguese news agency Chui Sai On also said that the Chinese side is already working on the possibility to established direct flights between the two countries.
During the ceremony the Portuguese Consul-General l in Macau, Vitor Sereno offered to the Chief Executive a shirt of Ronaldo, the captain and number 7 of the Portugal national team of soccer that will participate in the World Cup in Brazil.
Chui Sai On also said during the ceremony that Macau Government will continue to support the Portuguese school and the teaching of Portuguese in Macau
During the ceremony the Macau government’s multi-tasking chief spokesman Alexis Tam Chon Weng received the Portugal’s Order of Merit.
The decoration was bestowed on Tam by Portuguese Consul-General Vitor Sereno on behalf of Portugal’s President Anibal Cavaco Silva.
The bestowal took place during the Portuguese National Day reception hosted by Sereno at his Bela Vista mansion on Penha Hill.
Tam said in Portuguese that the decoration, which had been announced earlier, made him “very happy.”
Tam also heads the office of Chief Executive Chui Sai On. He also oversees Macau’s relations with Portugal and Taiwan, apart from handling a raft of other portfolios.
Macau’s Portuguese community held a string of events Monday to mark their country’s national day in memory of the death of Portuguese poet Luis de Camoes in Lisbon on June 10, 1580.
Some Portuguese writers believe that Camoes spent a few years in Macau. Legend has it that he started writing his epic poem The Lusiadas in Macau. (macaunews/macaupost)
