Macao and the European Union (EU) agreed to strengthen trade cooperation in the Ninth EC-Macao Joint Committee meeting held on 18 October in Brussels.

The Macao delegation, headed by the Secretary for Administration and Justice Florinda Chan, brought the EU up to date on recent developments in the SAR including continuing economic growth estimated at 5% for 2002.

A joint statement released after the meeting stated that both sides welcomed the successful finalization of an EC-Macao Readmission Agreement, followed on from the EU decision in March 2001, to grant visa-free access to Macao SAR passport holders.

It said that both sides also welcomed the successful completion of several projects in 2002, including the Macao-Europe Centre for Advance Tourism Studies, the Macao Institute of European Studies and the Macao Services Development Programme, and the start-up of a four-year new project on legal cooperation which to commence this year.

Moreover, the EC reaffirmed the positive conclusion of its Second Annual Report on MSAR and reiterated its support for the full implementation and upholding of the "Basic Law" of the MSAR under the "One country-Two systems" principles. The EC also noted with satisfaction the improved economic situation in the Macao.

The official annual meeting between Macao and Brussel was the third since the handover of Macao to China in 1999. The previous meeting took place in Macao in October 2001.