Macau and Portugal intend to develop a closer relationship and ensure cooperation at the highest level, the territory’s chief executive and the Portuguese prime minister said on Wednesday in Lisbon.
During a meeting in the Portuguese capital, Chui Sai On and António Costa considered that Macau will continue to carry out its specific functions, such as the service platform for economic and trade cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries.
The Prime Minister praised the contribution of the Chief Executive and the Macau Government to this effect, as well as their performance and efforts focused on the connection between China and Portugal and even with other Portuguese-speaking countries.
He said that Macau plays a unique role in the relationship between the two countries, adding it was essential to maintain cooperation in various areas, such as legal cooperation and boosting the entrepreneurial capacity of young people.
Costa stressed the importance of the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay and said he believed that the improvement of regional infrastructures, such as the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge, could lead to a more prosperous development and a close exchange with the Greater Bay.
The Macau Chief Executive acknowledged the support of the Portuguese government in strengthening bilateral cooperation in tourism education and training, noting that Portugal’s support will be positive for Macau because it will better play its role in establishing the Portuguese language and tourism, during the construction of the “Belt and Road” and the integration of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay.
Chui Sai On said that Macau will continue to serve as a service platform for trade cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, and next year will host another Ministerial Conference of the Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and the Portuguese-speaking countries (Macau).
The Chief Executive recalled that the government delegation he is leading will attend the sixth meeting of the Macau-Portugal Joint Commission, during which the parties will present forecasts for future cooperation, expressing their desire to see bilateral cooperation grow especially in the areas of education, culture, tourism, science and technology, along with a financial system with its own characteristics. (Macaunews)
