The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, met the President of the Portuguese Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, in the evening of 12 September, during his visit to Lisbon, Portugal. Both parties reaffirmed the significance of maintaining a good relationship between Portugal and Macao.

During the meeting, the Chief Executive thanked the Portuguese President for inviting the Macao delegation. He briefed the president on the contents and results of the fourth Macao-Portugal Joint Committee meeting, which was held in the morning, and looked forward to strengthening cooperation on economics and language education in future.

Discussing the economic environment, the Chief Executive said that the key for sustainable development of Macao was to actively promote adequate economic diversification and regional cooperation. He believed Macao and Portugal could cooperate in various areas.

The Chief Executive continued that although tourism and gaming are still the leading industries of Macao, the Government will strive to promote non-gaming elements – including cultural and creative, Chinese medicine, convention and exhibition, and specialised financial industries, as well as developing high-end services industries via regional cooperation. He said the Fifth Ministerial Conference of the Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries, to be held next month, will give Macao an opportunity to demonstrate its function of “one platform and three centres”. He believed the forum will offer further opportunities for bilateral cooperation.

The President of the Portuguese Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, said the visit of Macao delegation led by the Chief Executive reflected the friendship between China and Portugal, and the continuation of favourable cooperation between Macao and Portugal in financial, economic, cultural and language arenas.

He emphasised the importance of the Portuguese language to Macao and Portugal, which is a key element for establishing good relationships with all Portuguese-speaking countries and regions. He cited the Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries as an example of the Portuguese language’s function in promoting friendly relationships between China and Portuguese-speaking countries. The Portuguese Prime Minister will lead a delegation to Macao next month, for the Fifth Ministerial Conference of the Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries, and he believed that the conference and the forum will benefit the forging of a closer relationship between Portugal and China, including Macao.

Officials attending the meeting included the Ambassador of the People Republic of China to the Portuguese Republic, Cai Run; the Chief-of-Office of the Chief Executive's Office, O Lam; the Portuguese President’s International Relations Advisors, José Augusto Duarte and Vanda Sequeira; and the Consul-General of the Portuguese Republic in Hong Kong and Macao, Vítor Paulo da Costa Sereno.

In the afternoon, the Chief Executive and delegation visited the Portuguese Prime Minister, António Luís Santos da Costa. The prime minister recognised Macao as an important bridge for maintaining a good relationship between China and Portugal. He believed the Chief Executive’s visit will help to strengthen Macao’s relationship with Portugal.

Prime Minister Santos da Costa said Portugal has in recent years experienced speedy and innovative development of digitalisation, opening a new horizon for Portugal's development. Macao is actively promoting adequate economic diversification, which also opens the door for cooperation for Portugal, and helps to promote tripartite cooperation between Portugal, China and Macao in economic and new technology arenas. Portugal will certainly play an active role in this cooperation.

Chief Executive Chui Sai On said he was glad to see Portugal's achievements in making progress with new technology. As Macao is also fostering the spread of technology, he believed both parties could cooperate in this area to boost Macao’s diversification. He also looked forward to enhancing exchanges between Chinese and Portuguese students, and considering increases to scholarships.

Officials attending the meeting with Portuguese Prime Minister included the Ambassador of the People Republic of China to the Portuguese Republic, Cai Run; the Chief-of-Office of the Chief Executive's Office, O Lam; the Director of the Macao Economic and Trade Office in Lisbon, O Tin Lin; the Portuguese Secretary of Sate for International Affairs, Jorge Costa Oliveira; the Director of the Prime Minister Office, Rita Faden; the Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Advisor, Bernardo Lucena; and the Consul-General of the Portuguese Republic in Hong Kong and Macao, Vítor Paulo da Costa Sereno.