Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun has praised Macau’s role as an “important platform between China and the world’s nine Portuguese-speaking countries (PSCs).
Guo made the remarks during a regular press conference by the ministry in Beijing on Wednesday when asked by a China News Service (CNS) journalist about Portuguese Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel’s ongoing four-day visit to China at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi and its significance for the further development of relations between China and Portugal. The ministry released its transcript of the CNS question and Guo’s answer on its official website later that day:
China News Service (CNS): Yesterday [Tuesday], Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Portugal’s Minister of State and Foreign Affairs Paulo Rangel held the second China-Portugal strategic dialogue at the foreign ministers’ level. They reviewed the past experience of peacefully and properly resolving the question of Macao, and said that the two sides need to continue leveraging Macao’s role as a bridge and promote greater progress in bilateral relations. How do you view Macao’s role in China-Portugal relations?
Guo: China and Portugal properly resolved the question of Macao, setting an example of countries solving issues left over from the past through friendly consultation. After its return, as the only place in the world with both Chinese and Portuguese as its official languages, the Macao Special Administrative Region is an important platform for promoting business ties between China and Portuguese-speaking countries. It has increasingly frequent and in-depth exchanges with Portugal and other Portuguese-speaking countries. We believe with the strong support of the Central Government and the mainland of the country, Macao SAR will fully leverage the institutional strength of One Country, Two Systems, reinforce its connectivity with both the mainland and the world, act as a bridge between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, and help China and Portuguese-speaking countries achieve greater progress in cooperation in trade, finance, tourism and hi-tech, and other fields.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun speaks during Wednesday’s regular press conference at the ministry in Beijing. – Photo courtesy of FMPRC
