Macao’s Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng will call in at the European Commission during his forthcoming visit to Europe, it was revealed today.
The news was announced as Ho held an audience with newly appointed Consul General of Portugal in Macau and Hong Kong, Alexandre Leitão.
In a government readout of the talks, Ho said that he aimed to promote exchanges between Macao and EU member states in the areas of trade, science and technology, tourism and the movement of people.
Ho’s first port of call will be Lisbon, where he will meet with President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa with a view to reinforcing cultural, economic and social relations with Portugal and allaying concerns over the future of the Portuguese community in the SAR.
[See more: Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng to visit Lisbon, reports say]
The trip will likely take place in April. Ho will be accompanied by representatives of Macao’s business and media sectors.
In his meeting with Ho, Leitão expressed the hope that Portuguese language and culture would continue to be preserved and developed in Macau, emphasising its importance in trade between China and lusophone countries.
He also expressed interest in the Hengqin In-Depth Cooperation Zone and the prospects for companies from Portuguese-speaking countries establishing themselves in Hengqin.
