Source: Macauhub

The Macau Chief Executive, Fernando Chui Sai On and Portugal’s Minister of State and Foreign Affairs, Saturday signed an addendum to the Framework Cooperation Agreement to make the meeting of the Macau-Portugal Joint Commission an annual event.

The document, which is intended to increase contacts between the two sides with a view to increasing cooperation, was signed on the first day of the visit by Portuguese President, Aníbal Cavaco Silva, to Macau after he visited the People’s Republic of China.

The Macau Chief Executive said, at a banquet for the Portuguese President that the ties that bind Portugal and Macau “are an integral part of Macau’s identity (…) and have left a cultural legacy of universal value.”

The Chief executive also noted that “since 2000 the value of trade has grown and many Portuguese companies recognise that, via Macau, they can develop their businesses not only in China but in other parts of Asia.”

Chui also said that after the return of Macau’s administration to China, in 1999, the Special Administrative Region had focused on transforming itself “into a world tourism and leisure centre and a platform of economic and commercial services between China and the Portuguese-speaking countries.”

At the end of his visit to Macau Cavaco Silva said that his trip to China had “increased the strategic partnership,” between the two countries and had opened up potential three-way cooperation with Africa and Latin America.

Cavaco Silva said he was sure that contacts between businesspeople from Portugal and China during his visit would “be fruitful.”

Cavaco Silva’s visit to Macau was essentially cultural as he visited the new campus of Macau University on Hengqin Island, the Portuguese School, the Polytechnic Institute, the Camões Grotto, the Ruins of Sao Paulo and the Cultural Institute.

In all the places he visited the Portuguese head of state noted the importance of the Portuguese language in the world and encouraged students to continue to learn the language and discover Portuguese culture.

During his two-day visit Cavaco Silva granted the Grand Cross of Merit to Macau Chief Executive, Chui Sai On, at a ceremony held at the Portuguese Consul-General’s residence in Macau.