The Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Mr Tam Chon Weng, met the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Ms Críona Ní Dhálaigh, and the Consul General of Ireland to Hong Kong and Macao, Mr Peter Ryan, on Monday (21 March). The parties exchanged views on how to strengthen bilateral cooperation in several areas, including culture, education and sports.

During the meeting, the Consul General of Ireland thanked the Macao Government for the support given to the celebration of St. Patrick’s Day in Macao; an event successfully held on 20 March.

Mr Tam said he looked forward to Macao supporting similar activities in the future, to help diversify the city’s cultural life and to attract more tourists to Macao.

The Secretary also said that the Government’s plan to revamp the Taipa Houses-Museum area would help create a location in Macao where similar cultural events could be held, including the possibility of hosting an Irish cultural week.

Such an event would not only strengthen and deepen cooperation between Macao and Ireland, but would also promote Macao as a platform for cultural exchanges and help attract more tourists to the city, noted Mr Tam.

Ireland’s Consul General invited Mr Tam to visit the country’s capital, Dublin. Mr Ryan additionally said he hoped to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Macao Government in order to establish a closer working relationship, namely in the areas of culture and gastronomy.

The Secretary said he believed that a student exchange programme organised by Macao’s Institute for Tourism Studies would contribute to strengthening cultural exchanges between Macao and Ireland.