Proactively strengthening cooperation with Spanish-speaking countries is part of the Macao Special Administrative Region (MSAR) Government’s strategic development effort. The MSAR Government will press ahead with extending to Spanish-speaking countries the functions of Macao’s platform for cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries. It will also open up market opportunities and increasing trade with Spanish-speaking countries with the help of a one-billion yuan development fund – for promoting trade between China and Portuguese (Spanish)-speaking countries – jointly established by the MSAR Government and the Executive Committee of the Guangdong-Macao Intensive Cooperation Zone In Hengqin.
These were remarks made by the Chief Executive, Mr Sam Hou Fai, when he addressed a welcoming reception held for the visiting MSAR Government delegation in Madrid, Spain, on Wednesday (22 April) in the evening local time.
The Second Vice President of the Senate of Spain, Ms Concha Andreu Rodríguez; the Chinese Ambassador to Spain and Andorra, Mr Yao Jing; the Chief-of-Office of the Chief Executive’s Office, Ms Chan Kak; and the President of the Board of Directors of the MSAR’s Commerce and Investment Promotion Institute, Che Weng Keong, were presiding officials at the reception.
In his address to the gathering, Mr Sam noted that President Xi Jinping and King Felipe VI of Spain jointly provided – during the latter’s visit to China last year – important strategic guidance for building a more dynamic comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Spain that boasts greater global influence. This would promote pragmatic cooperation, and jointly explore third-party markets including Latin America. President Xi met last week with Spain’s Prime Minister, Mr Pedro Sánchez, in Beijing, and had expressed hope that both sides would seize opportunities to promote greater achievements in the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries and bring more benefits to the people of the two countries.
Mr Sam said his visit to Spain is not only an attempt to implement the important consensus reached earlier by the leaders of China and Spain, but also a journey of discovery to make new friends and explore new opportunities.
He pointed out that Macao has always been an important window for exchanges and mutual learning between Chinese and Western civilisations, and has maintained close and friendly ties with the West, especially European countries including Spain. Macao is willing to rejuvenate this traditional and profound friendship with the aim of promoting friendly cooperation between Macao and Spain, while enhancing mutual understanding between the people in those places, and deepening pragmatic cooperation in various fields.
He added that the People's Republic of China’s 15th Five-Year Plan for national economic and social development – which was announced last month – outlines a grand blueprint for China's development over the next five years and highlights that China will continue to pursue a mutually beneficial and win-win opening-up strategy, providing broad prospects and opportunities for cooperation between China and Spain. Macao is closely aligning with the national 15th Five-Year Plan and formulating its own Third Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development. He stressed that Macao is committed to promoting high-quality domestic reforms and high-level opening-up, improving various platforms and mechanisms for international cooperation, and making Macao an important gateway for countries around the world, including Spain, to board the “express train of Chinese development”.
Since its return to the motherland, Macao has achieved remarkable success in the implementation of the “One country, two systems” principle and has entered a new stage of high-quality development, Mr Sam stated.
Entrepreneurs from the Chinese mainland, Macao, and the Cooperation Zone in Hengqin are part of the MSAR delegation visiting Spain. They come from wide ranging industries including high technology, “Big Health”, and infrastructure construction. They have strengthened exchanges, established connections, and actively explored cooperation opportunities in tourism, conventions and exhibitions, technological innovation, and green industries via participation in trade and economic cooperation promotion meetings during this visit, said Mr Sam. He also invited Spanish companies to seek investment and development opportunities in the Chinese mainland, Macao, and Hengqin.
Ms Andreu said in her speech that both China and Spain share a strong desire to strengthen cooperation, and bilateral relations are at their best level in history. She mentioned that Prime Minister Sánchez's recent visit to China yielded positive results, establishing with Chinese leaders a cooperation framework for the period 2026 to 2029. King Felipe and a Senate delegation had also visited China earlier, contributing to the continued development of friendly relations between the two countries, she noted.
Ms Andreu added that China has achieved remarkable results in the development of high technology, especially in the rapid development of new-energy vehicles and energy storage, which has amazed the world. Meanwhile Spain also observes the vibrant and promising economic development of Macao, she said. In terms of tourism and culture, both Spain and Macao are renowned world-class tourist destinations, boasting UNESCO World Heritage and intangible cultural heritage. Future exchanges and cooperation in these areas are promising, with broad prospects for collaboration in cultural tourism and MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions) tourism, she remarked.
Ambassador Yao, for his part, said the Chief Executive's visit to Spain is of great significance to both Macao and Spain. He noted that during a meeting held on Wednesday morning between the Chief Executive and Spain’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, the minister strongly encouraged Macao to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with Spain and other Spanish-speaking countries and regions, expressing confidence that Macao, Spain, and Latin America will have broad grounds for cooperation.
The Central Government strongly supports the MSAR in its external cooperation efforts – including with Spain – on the basis of mutual respect, equality, and mutual benefit, said Ambassador Yao. There will be further support for building a better exchange platform and providing a more favourable cooperation environment for businesses from both sides, he added. He also urged enterprises from the Chinese mainland, Macao, and Hong Kong to take greater notice of Spain, and actively promote pragmatic cooperation with Spanish businesses.
Five cooperation agreements were signed during the reception. The projects aim to promote friendly exchanges and economic cooperation between relevant departments of the MSAR Government and Spanish business organisations, as well as to strengthen economic and trade cooperation services.
The event was attended by about 300 guests, including members of the MSAR Government delegation; entrepreneurs from the MSAR delegation; representatives of the Chinese Embassy to Spain and Andorra; and representatives of Spain’s industrial and commercial sectors.
