Rui Paulo da Silva Martins, vice rector of the University of Macau (UM), was awarded the rank of Commander of the Order of Merit by Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, recognising his long-standing efforts in promoting cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries (PSCs), as well as his contributions to higher education and scientific research in Portugal and Macau.
The medal was presented during a ceremony at the Consulate General of Portugal in Macau and Hong Kong on Rua de Pedro Nolasco da Silva yesterday evening attended by representatives from the academic sector and the Portuguese community.
“I feel deeply honoured by the recognition of His Excellency the President of the Portuguese Republic through the awarding of the Order of Merit. This honour rewards my work and dedication to the cause of Macau, through my contribution to the development of the university as an academic institution of global standing that serves as a bridge between the Chinese mainland, the Macau Special Administrative Region (MSAR), the Portuguese Republic, and Portuguese-speaking countries, Martins told public broadcaster TDM last month.
Portugal’s Consul-General in Macau and Hong Kong Alexandre Leitão said the award recognised a figure who has remained “discreetly effective, exemplary and deeply solidary” throughout decades of service. Leitão added that Martins is a person who demonstrates to the world the best that the Portuguese have done and continue to do in Macau, the whole of China and the whole world, describing him as someone who has earned trust through his work and dedication.
In his speech, Martins expressed gratitude to the Portuguese president and those who supported his nomination, as well as his family.
Martins also reflected on his early years in Macau, noting that he arrived about 34 years ago with doubts about living in such a small city. However, he said Macau proved to be “a unique place” and a platform that allowed him to better understand Portugal and the wider Portuguese-speaking world.
“Here in Macau, I managed to get to know more about Portugal as a whole,” he said, adding that the city serves as “a gateway, a platform for the whole world.”
He also referenced Macau’s global reputation for gaming, saying the city had long been better known for its “casino chips” that anything else, but stressed that his own experience demonstrated Macau’s broader cultural and international significance.
The medal highlights Martins’ decades of work bridging Macau, Portugal and the Portuguese-speaking world as a whole through academic exchange and cooperation, aiming to reinforce Macau’s role as a key platform connecting China with Portuguese-speaking countries.
Rui Paulo da Silva Martins, vice rector of the University of Macau (UM), poses with his Commander of the Order of Merit medal at the Consulate General of Portugal on Rua de Pedro Nolasco da Silva yesterday evening. – Photo: Khalel Vallo
