The Government would recruit more Portuguese medical specialists, such as language and vocational therapists, to meet the increasing needs in the society and facilitate the training of local personnel.

This is according to a meeting between Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Mr Tam Chon Weng, and Minister of Education and Technology of Portugal, Mr Nuno Crato, held in Lisbon, Portugal on 14 July.

Mr Crato, whose department would co-ordinate the recruitment as agreed, said he foresaw the procedures would commence in the near future.

In the meeting, Mr Tam and Mr Crato exchanged views on issues of mutual interests, such as strategy to transform Macao as a training base of Portuguese language in Asia-Pacific regions, and support for the Portuguese school of Macau (Escola Portuguesa de Macau).

During his visit, Mr Tam has visited the Macao Economic and Trade Office in Lisbon to learn more on the daily operation, and the Champalimaud Foundation, where he was briefed the Foundation’s facilities, research projects, treatment centre, cancer prevention and diagnosis methods, laboratory and other facilities for scientific research.

Later the day, Mr Tam had met with the President of Portuguese Association of Travel and Tourism Agents to introduce Chinese government’s initiative on maritime Silk Road, in which Macao would play a special role in tourism.

Officials who accompanied Mr Tam in Portugal included Acting Director of the Macao Economic and Trade Office in Lisbon, Ms Maria Gabriela dos Remédios César; and consultants from Mr Tam’s office.