The Chief Executive, Mr Ho Iat Seng, today said local news organisations reporting respectively in Portuguese and English played a significant role in promoting the coexistence in Macao of Chinese culture and Western cultures.

Mr Ho affirmed those news outlets’ respective roles as mediator between the Government and the Portuguese-speaking and English-using communities in the city. He also spoke highly of the press effort to promote overseas Macao’s roles and contributions regarding the “Belt and Road” initiative, and the city’s development as a commercial and trade cooperation service platform between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, an initiative known as the “Platform” policy.

The Chief Executive made the remarks today in a speech at a luncheon for representatives of local Portuguese-language and English-language news organisations.

In his speech, Mr Ho stated the Government would continue to uphold the freedom of the press in strict accordance with the Basic Law. The Government valued positive communication and interaction with the press, and would continue the practice of assisting and cooperating with the press to safeguard its right to cover, report and receive news and information, in order further to ensure the free flow of news and information in Macao.

Mr Ho mentioned that those news organisations had played a crucial part in reflecting social conditions and popular sentiments to the Government and in monitoring the Government’s work.

Additionally, the Chief Executive stated that the Government would spare no effort to ensure a successful and fruitful 6th edition of the Ministerial Conference of the Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Macao), an event to be held in Macao later in the year.

The Chief Executive invited the Portuguese- and English-language news outlets to continue to support – and participate in coverage of – the Ministerial Conference, as witnesses to Macao’s efforts regarding its “Platform” policy.