Portugal's new consul-general in Macau, Alexandre Leitao, paid his first courtesy call on Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng yesterday, the Macau Government Information Bureau (GCS) has announced today.
According to a GCS statement, the meeting took place at Government Headquarters.
Ho and Leitao exchanged views on how to further strengthen Macau's role as a bridge between China and Portugal, as well as on "pragmatic cooperation" between the two sides and Portuguese heritage and culture in Macau. They also talked about Ho's upcoming working visit to Portugal, said the statement, which described the meeting as having "produced positive results".
The statement quoted Ho as saying that Portugal is the first foreign country that he will visit after the three-year COVID-19 pandemic. Ho said, according to the statement, that his visit to Portugal "shows the importance of and respect for the friendly ties between China and Portugal."
The statement did not say when the visit will take place. According to unconfirmed local media reports, Ho will visit Portugal in April.
The chief executive was also quoted as saying that he will be accompanied by a business and media delegation on his visit to Portugal, which he expected to promote cooperation and exchanges in the areas of Portuguese-language teaching, science and technology, pharmaceutics, and the blue economy.
The trip will be Ho's first visit to Portugal since he became Macau's chief executive in December 2019.
Portugal returned Macau to Chinese administration on December 19, 1999, after ruling the Chinese city for some four centuries. Portuguese continues to be one of Macau's two official languages, alongside Chinese.
Leitao is simultaneously accredited in Macau and Hong Kong. According to Portugal's Foreign Ministry, he was previously posted to East Timor, the European Union, Angola, and Senegal. He arrived in Macau about a month ago.
Caption: Macau Special Administrative Region (MSAR) Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng (right) and Portugal's new Consul-General Alexandre Leitao meet at Government Headquarters yesterday. – Photo: GCS
