Macau Special Administrative Region (MSAR) Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai met on Thursday with the permanent representative of China to the United Nations Office in Geneva and other international organisations in Switzerland, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Jia Guide, the Macau Government Information Bureau (GCS) said in a statement.
According to the statement, Sam and Jia exchanged views on further strengthening bilateral ties, enhancing platform alignment, and bolstering Macau’s exchange and cooperation with international organisations.
Sam had arrived in Geneva, Switzerland, on Thursday, after working visits to Madrid and Lisbon. He is on a nine-day, four-nation tour of Europe, which ends in Brussels today.
Sam expressed gratitude to the Permanent Mission of China to the United Nations Office in Geneva and other international organisations based in Switzerland for their long-standing and substantial support and assistance in Macau’s external affairs.
Sam noted China’s central authorities* have expressed full recognition of the work of the current-term MSAR Government, since it assumed office in December 2024. The MSAR Government will continue to work diligently to fully implement the important speeches and instructions of President Xi Jinping, further leverage the institutional advantages of the “One Country, Two Systems” principle, and strengthen Macau’s role as a two-way bridge connecting the Chinese mainland with the world. Said said the aim is to build a higher-level platform for opening-up, and extend the MSAR’s platform role serving China and Portuguese-speaking countries (PSCs) to cover Spanish-speaking countries (SSCs) and others.
The MSAR Government remains firmly committed to the “One Country, Two Systems” principle, and is actively deepening Macao’s close ties with various international organisations by leveraging its unique institutional strengths, Sam was quoted by the statement as saying.
Sam also said that the MSAR is looking forward to utilising Geneva’s multilateral stage – home to numerous international organisations – to enhance collaborative efforts in upholding multilateralism, and for strengthening global governance, and contributing to the development of international rules, while promoting international organisations to support the MSAR in leveraging its platform role.
To advance this agenda, continued strong support and coordination from the Permanent Mission of China will be essential, Sam said, expressing hope that both sides will further strengthen operational coordination and jointly write a new chapter in Macau’s deepened engagement with international organisations.
According to the statement, Ambassador Jia provided an overview of the Permanent Mission’s functions and operational framework. He pointed out that it serves the fundamental interests of the nation, and as a Special Administrative Region of China, Macao has successfully implemented the principles of “One Country, Two Systems”, “Macau people governing Macau”, and a high degree of autonomy. With its unique role as an international platform, Jia said, Macau actively participates in various international organisations, effectively supporting the country’s broader strategy of high-level opening-up. On this foundation, the Permanent Mission will continue to enhance its support for Macau’s external cooperation.
Considering that Geneva is a key hub for multilateral diplomacy, and the first-ever visit there by an MSAR chief executive carries significant meaning, said Jia said, adding that this reflects the current MSAR Government’s strong commitment to exchanges and cooperation with international organisations.
The ambassador was also quoted by the statement as saying that the Permanent Mission will intensify its support to promote even deeper collaboration between the MSAR Government and international organisations, such as enhancing coordination in cultural exchanges, promotion of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), and actively telling the Macau story and, by extension, the Chinese story, on the international stage.
Also present at the meeting were the chief-of-office of the Chief Executive’s Office, Chan Kak, and the director of the Macao Economic and Trade Office to the World Trade Organization, Lúcia Abrantes dos Santos. Officials from the Permanent Mission of China to the United Nations Office at Geneva and other International Organisations in Switzerland included Minister-Counsellor Liang Hong; Counsellor Mao Yizong, and Counsellor Yang Mo.
Sam visits Macao Economic and Trade Office to WTO in Geneva
Meanwhile, Sam yesterday visited the Macao Economic and Trade Office to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in Geneva, according to a separate statement by GCS.
According to the statement, during the visit, he inspected the office's operations, received a work report, and outlined requirements for its future work, expressing his expectation for the office to strengthen its functions in liaison and follow-up to help Macau expand its international economic and trade cooperation.
As the final engagement of his Geneva itinerary, the statement pointed out, Sam first heard a report from Office Director Lucia Abrantes dos Santos to gain a deeper understanding of the office's operations and staffing. He then toured the office areas, where he met and greeted the staff, enquired about their work and well-being, and encouraged them to work together to maintain current standards while embracing their future duties with a proactive and pioneering spirit, the statement pointed out.
Sam also pointed out that Geneva serves as a major stage for multilateral cooperation among international organisations. Leveraging its front-line position, the office can help the SAR Government expand exchanges with other international bodies and support Macao’s efforts to extend its platform role to Spanish-speaking Countries, the statement quoted him as saying.
Sam and his entourage have meanwhile arrived in Brussels for talks with Belgian and European Union (EU) officials. They are slated to arrive back in Macau tomorrow.
N.B. Translation provided by GCS; minor edits by the Post.
*The term "central authorities" generally refers to the highest-level institutions of the state and the Communist Party of China (CPC) that exercise supreme power over the country. - MPD
Caption: Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai shakes hands with Ambassador Jia Guide, permanent representative of the People's Republic of China (PRC) and ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to the UN Office in Geneva and other International Organisations in Switzerland, in Geneva on Thursday. - Photo: GCS
