Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai met with the Chinese Ambassador to Belgium Fei Shengchao in Brussels yesterday, the Macau Government Information Bureau (GCS) has announced in a statement.
According to the statement, both exchanged views on deepening economic and trade cooperation and tourism ties between Macau and Belgium, as well as expanding collaboration in emerging industries.
Sam expressed his gratitude to Fei and the Chinese embassy for their strong support in facilitating the Macau Special Administrative Region (MSAR) Government delegation’s visit to Belgium, as well as for their continued interest in Macao’s successful implementation of the “One Country, Two Systems” principle with Macau characteristics.
This visit marked a key step in the current-term MSAR Government’s strategy to deepen engagement with the European market, supporting mutually-beneficial cooperation between China and Europe, Sam said, adding that the visit aimed to contribute to the implementation of the consensus reached by the leaders of China and Belgium on enhancing their all-round friendly partnership.
The nine-day, four-nation tour also served to present to the international community the achievements Macao has made since its return to the motherland in 1999 through the successful practising of the “One Country, Two Systems” principle, while promoting the development opportunities in Macau and Hengqin*, and further demonstrating Macau’s role in the nations high-level opening up, Sam was quoted by the statement as saying.
Sam noted that, building on the existing solid foundation, the MSAR Government is committed to strengthening economic and trade exchanges and tourism cooperation between Macau and Belgium. The MSAR also plans to expand collaboration with Belgium in emerging sectors such as biomedical research and development, smart logistics, and green development, enhancing industrial linkages, leveraging complementary strengths, and pursuing shared growth.
These efforts would contribute to building a more resilient economic and trade bridge between China and Europe, Sam said, expressing hope that the Chinese Embassy in Belgium will continue to support and provide guidance on Macao’s internationalisation strategy.
Fei said that Sam’s visit will help deepen understanding among Belgians of Macau’s current situation and development potential. China-Belgium relations are steadily progressing, and as an important gateway for the Chinese mainland’s opening-up, Macau possesses the unique advantage of being “backed by the motherland, connected to the world”, the ambassador said, expressing confidence that Macau’s strength will contribute further to strengthening the comprehensive friendly partnership between the two countries.
Fei expressed hope that the MSAR Government delegation and representatives of Macau’s business community will often visit Belgium, further strengthening interaction and practical cooperation between Macau and Belgium, as well as with other European countries.
The ambassador noted that Belgium holds a leading position in biomedicine and green industries, adding that the Chinese embassy will actively serve as a bridge to promote precise sectoral alignment between the MSAR and Belgium, paving the way for a new phase of bilateral economic and trade cooperation.
At the same time, Fei said the embassy will continue to support Macau in leveraging its platform functions to help deepen China’s comprehensive cooperation with Belgium and the rest of Europe, while enabling Macau to achieve sustained progress in appropriate economic diversification and continuous improvement in people’s livelihoods.
Other officials also present at yesterday’s meeting were: the chief-of-office of the Chief Executive’s Office, Chan Kak; the director of the Macao Economic and Trade Office to the European Union in Brussels, Lúcia Abrantes dos Santos; and officials from the Chinese Embassy in Belgium, including acting Chargé d’Affaires Li Yan and Counsellor Xie Yajing.
In addition, Sam, accompanied by Fei, on Friday met with around 30 representatives of the Chinese community in Belgium. The meeting aimed to strengthen communication and explore further cooperation, building on existing ties. Sam expressed appreciation for the community leaders’ long-standing support in enhancing Macao’s external economic and trade exchanges.
Looking ahead, Sam expressed hope the Chinese community will continue to promote ties with the MSAR, and actively leverage their extensive networks across Belgium to assist Macau enterprises in exploring new business opportunities there, fostering synergistic development and achieving even greater results.
Sam and his entourage are slated to arrive back in Macau today. His European tour took him to Lisbon, Madrid, Geneva, and Brussels.
N.B. Translation provided by GCS; minor edits and additions by the Post.
* The 106-km2 Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin is an island right across from Macau’s Taipa and Coloane islands. Hengqin is an administrative area of Zhuhai City, which abuts Macau. – MPD
Caption: Macau SAR Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai shakes hands with Chinese Ambassador to Belgium Fei Shengchao in Brussels yesterday. - Photo: GCS
