Chief Executive Sam Ho Fai met with Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro yesterday morning at Government Headquarters in Nam Van, both vowing to further strengthen close cooperation and friendly exchanges between Portugal and Macau.
According to a statement by the Macau Government Information Bureau (GCS), both exchanged views on topics such as the ongoing consolidation and enhancement of friendly relations between China and Portugal, further leveraging Macau’s unique role as a bridge, and continuously strengthening bilateral exchanges and cooperation.
Sam noted that Montenegro’s visit to Macau as part of his first official trip to China reflects the Portuguese government’s attention and friendliness towards Macau, which will facilitate the further deepening of exchanges and cooperation between Macau and Portugal, enhancing Macau’s role as a “specific link” between China and Portuguese-speaking countries. He pointed out that the meeting between President Xi Jinping and Montenegro regarding bilateral relations and common concerns is significant for better utilising Macau’s role as a cooperation platform under the new circumstances, contributing to an even stronger China-Portugal relationship.
Sam briefed Montenegro on the successful practice of “One Country, Two Systems” in Macau, the development achievements across various fields since the city’s return to the motherland, and the local government’s policy initiatives.
According to the statement, Sam emphasised that throughout Macau’s development, the government has consistently prioritised the protection and respect for the rights, customs, and cultural traditions of Macau’s Portuguese community, actively promoting Portuguese language education.
Sam stressed that the local government maintains smooth communication with the Portuguese side, consolidating and deepening exchanges and cooperation through the “Macau-Portugal Joint Committee” mechanism, which has facilitated the signing of multiple cooperation agreements across various fields. He expressed heartfelt gratitude and high praise for the consistent support from successive Portuguese governments regarding Macau’s stability and prosperity, especially in promoting Macau’s role as a bridge in enhancing cooperation between China and Portugal and the Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries (CPLP).
He emphasised the long-standing friendship between the peoples of China and Portugal, reinforced over 20 years of establishing a comprehensive strategic partnership, particularly in better utilising Macau as a platform for China-Portugal exchanges and cooperation.
Macau, being the only region in the world with both Chinese and Portuguese as official languages, is committed to creating a “China-Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries Commercial Cooperation Service Platform” under the strong support of both nations, by hosting the “China-Portuguese-speaking Countries Economic and Trade Cooperation Forum” and establishing measures to deepen cooperation in various fields, thereby enhancing China-Portugal friendly relations. Looking ahead, Sam said he is confident that under the care, guidance, and assistance of the leaders of both countries, both Macau and Portugal can continuously deepen mutual trust and cooperation, enhance friendly exchanges, better serve the people, and elevate bilateral exchanges and cooperation to a new level.
The statement noted that Montenegro positively evaluated the successful practice of “One Country, Two Systems” in Macau and the significant achievements since its return to the motherland, praising Macau for its protection of diverse cultures, including the Portuguese one. He expressed hope, according to the statement, to deepen cooperation across various fields through the “Macau-Portugal Joint Committee” and support Macau in playing a bridging role in cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, believing that under the leadership of the new government of the Macau Special Administrative Region (MSAR), greater development will be achieved. He also expressed hope for a timely visit by Sam to Portugal.
During the meeting, both sides acknowledged the good outcomes achieved in the past six meetings of the “Macau-Portugal Joint Committee” and tentatively agreed to hold the seventh meeting in early February next year to further expand practical cooperation.
Participants in the meeting included Zhao Bentang, the Chinese Ambassador to Portugal; Liu Xianfa, Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Macau; Secretary for Administration and Justice André Cheong Weng Chon; Secretary for Economy and Finance Anton Lei Wai Nong; Director of the Chief Executive’s Office Chan Kak; as well as Paulo Rangel, Portugal’s Secretary of State and Minister of Foreign Affairs; Manuel Castro Almeida, Portugal’s Minister of Economy and Territorial Cohesion; Paulo Jorge Nascimento, the Portuguese Ambassador to China; and Alexandre José dos Reis Leitão, Portugal’s Consul General accredited to Macau and Hong Kong.
Montenegro, who arrived in Macau on Tuesday night after meetings with President Xi Jinping, Prime Minister Li Qiang and National People’s Congress Standing Committee Chairman Zhao Leji in Beijing on Monday, yesterday visited the Portuguese School, Portuguese Consulate General, went on a walkabout with his wife Carla Neto Montenegro in the city centre, including Largo do Senado and the Ruins of St Paul’s, and hosted a reception for the local Portuguese community at the consul-general’s official residence, Bela Vista, on Penha Hill. He departed yesterday afternoon en route to an official visit to Japan.
Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai (right) and Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro shake hands outside Government Headquarters in Nam Van yesterday morning, before their working meeting with their respective delegations inside. – Photo: GCS
Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro and his wife Carla Neto Montenegro pose in front of the Ruins of St Paul’s during his three-day official visit to China, which began with top-level meetings in Beijing and concluded in Macau, which returned to the exercise of Chinese sovereignty in December 1999. – AFP
