Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai told over three dozen consuls accredited in Macau and other senior local and mainand Chinese officials at a banquet earlier this week that “Macau’s strength” would ensure the success of next month’s 13th APEC Tourism Ministerial Meeting.
Sam made the remarks in a speech on Thursday evening at the Garden House of the Grand Lisboa Palace integrated resort in Macau’s Cotai leisure precinct. The banquet was also attended by the commissioner of the Commission of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China (PRC) in the Macau Special Administrative Region (MSAR), Bian Lixin, and senior MSAR Government officials, including several policy secretaries.
The 13th APEC Tourism Ministerial Meeting will be hosted by Macau on June 24–28.
According to a statement by the Macau Government Information Bureau (GCS), Sam pointed out that, “under the guidance of the Central People’s Government, the MSAR Government is making every effort to advance all preparatory work to ensure the meeting’s success, contributing ‘Macau’s strength’ to this year’s ‘APEC China 2026’ series of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings".
The banquet was also attended by representatives of the Macau-based Permanent Secretariat of the Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Forum Macao).
Sam noted that Macau hosted last time an APEC Tourism Ministerial Meeting in 2014. “This international event is again being held in Macau, fully demonstrating the Central People’s Government’s trust in Macau and its strong support for the MSAR Government”, Sam said, adding: “The event also highlights Macau’s role as an important bridge connecting China and the world”.
Sam emphasised that “in addition to attending the event, all delegates will have the opportunity to fully experience Macau’s unique charm and heritage as a vibrant blend of Chinese and Western cultures”. He also underlined, according to the statement, that as a “World Centre of Tourism and Leisure” — a role given to the MSAR by the Central People’s Government after Macau’s return to the motherland in December 1999 — “Macau has extensive experience in hosting major international conferences”.
Macau's historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The MSAR is a free port, founding member of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), and separate customs territory of the PRC. Last year, Macau welcomed a record 40.07 million visitor arrivals.
Caption: MSAR Chief Executive (front, centre) Sam Hou Fai and Chinese Foreign Affairs Ministry Commissioner Bian Lixin (front, ninth from left) post with consultate accredit to Macau, representatives of the Permanent Secretariat of the Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Forum Macao) and senior local and Chinese mainland officials on the sidelines of a briefing on Macau affairs and a formal banquet on Thursday. - Photo: GCS
