Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) Director Lu Chang-shui highlighted Tuesday the “crucial effects” of the growing relationship between Taiwan and Macau .
Lu praised the bilateral ties in a speech delivered Tuesday at Macau Tower as the quasi-official office held its Chinese New Year dinner.
According to The Macau Post Daily, Lu also said that as communications between local and Taiwan people are becoming more frequent, new business opportunities are created. Lu also pledged that the office will continue to bring people from the two Chinese regions closer to each other and engage in activities that benefit both sides, saying that co-operation between Macau and Taiwan serves as an inspiring model for the development of cross-strait relations in general.
Lu vowed to further increase business and education exchanges between both sides, adding that more co-operation in areas such as food safety, medical research and environmental protection will take place this year.
Meanwhile, according to Kao Ming-Tsun, director-general of the Department of Hong Kong and Macau Affairs of Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council (MAC), more than 75,000 locals visited Taiwan last year, a 20 percent increase year-on-year.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the dinner, Kao described the relationship between Macau and Taiwan as great, adding that both sides should further develop their cultural exchanges. He also said that with the signing of a formal civil aviation agreement between Taiwan and Macau , travelers have been given more choices and convenience.(macaunews)
