The Portuguese Secretary of State for Tax Affairs, António Mendonça Mendes, the representative of the Portuguese government for the ceremonies of June 10 (National Day) praised the government of Macau for the opportunities given to Portuguese nationals to live and work in the region.
Mendes, in his speech, recalled the commercial and diplomatic relations between Portugal and China, noting Portugal’s commitment to the “Belt and Road” initiative.
During the ceremony, the Portuguese consul-general Vitor Sereno said that now is the time for Chinese investment in Portugal to take a more qualitative step, pointing out new fields such as the automotive industry and electric mobility as a field where Portugal possess advantages that can be explored by Chinese corporations.
“It is time to give a qualitative step on [Chinese] investment in Portugal, focusing on the new creation of entrepreneurship in different sectors, namely on the automobile [industry] where we possess great capacity of installation of both European and Japanese brands. Cooperation on ‘electric mobility’ would be particularly promising” he said.
The Chief Executive, Chui Sai On said during the ceremony that the government recognises and respects the social role played by the Portuguese and Macanese and mention the “importance” of the Portuguese language and Macanese culture in the local society.
Chui also said that Macau will continue to play a role as a platform between China and the Portuguese-speaking countries.
He offered words of appreciation for the work of Sereno in the six years that he had been leading the Consulate – General in Macau.
Vitor Sereno is due to leave Macau by the end of the year.
