The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, met with the visiting President of the Portuguese Republic, Mr Aníbal Cavaco Silva, at Government Headquarters where they exchanged views on future bilateral co-operation.
The President, who is leading a delegation of some 110 people including members of congress, entrepreneurs and university representatives, arrived in a charter flight at 13:45 following visits to Shanghai and Beijing in the mainland.
Mr Cavaco Silva and his delegates met with Mr Chui right after their arrival. During the meeting, Mr Chui said that Macao and Portugal has a good co-operation in different aspects since the Co-operation Framework Agreement between the Macao Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China and the Portuguese Republic, signed by the Chief Executive and the then Portuguese Foreign Minister, Jaime Gama, on 23 May 2001.
He said he believed that based on this Agreement, bilateral cooperation would continue to move forward.
Mr Chui highlighted that Mr Cavaco Silva’s visit is a good opportunity for both sides to review the topics concerned and to plan for future projects. The President thanked Mr Chui for the Macao Government’s hospitability.
He said he was excited to come back to Macao for the first time since the historic day in December 1999 when China resumed the exercise of sovereignty over Macao.
After the meeting, Mr Chui Sai On, and the Minister of State and Foreign Affairs of Portugal, Mr Rui Machete, signed the Amended Protocol to the Framework Agreement on Co-operation between the Macao Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China and the Portuguese Republic, watched by the Portuguese President, the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the PRC in Macao SAR, Mr Hu Zhengyue; the Ambassador of Portugal to China, Mr Jorge Torres; the Secretary for Administration and Justice, Ms Florinda Chan; the Consul General of Portugal in Hong Kong and Macao, Vítor Sereno; and the Chief-of-Cabinet of the Office of the Chief Executive, Mr Tam Chon Weng.
The two leaders met the media after the meeting. Mr Chui told the media that both sides have reached consensus that Macao and Portugal would continue to keep close contact and to expand the co-operation in a wider field. He stressed that two parties would move forward based on the friendly and supporting foundation.
Mr Cavaco Silva said that China and Portugal has established diplomatic relations for 35 years and Macao Special Administrative Region has been established for almost 15 years. He said his visit marked a significant meaning, and stressed that Macao was one of the most important part in the co-operative relationship between China and Portugal.
He also said that it was his honour to sign the Sino-Portuguese Joint Declaration on the Question of Macao in 1987 on behalf of the Portuguese Government. After the establishment of the Macao SAR, fruitful results have been achieved on the political, economic and social development and proved that the Joint Declaration was a wise decision.
Aside from enhancing trade between entrepreneurs, Mr Cavaco Silva said both sides would also strengthen co-operation on technology and the promotion of language education. He said some 250 million people in the world spoke Portuguese which has its value in term of economy, and wished the Macao Government would continue to promote the Portuguese language.
Mr Chui said Macao has established a relatively perfect system in Portuguese language training and with the support of Portugal, Macao was in a better position to become the training base for learning Portuguese.
After the press briefing, the Chief Executive went to the Consul General of Portugal in Hong Kong and Macao’s official residence where he was conferred the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit by Mr Cavaco Silva.
Mr Cavaco Silva and his delegates attended a welcome banquet hosted by the Macao Government in the evening. He is scheduled to visit the Portuguese School, Ruins of St. Paul, the University of Macau, and the Macao Polytechnic Institute.
At the invitation of President Xi Jinping of the People’s Republic of China, President Cavaco Silva began his state visit to China on 12 May. After visiting Shanghai and Beijing, he led his delegation to Macao for a two day visit.
