Macao and the Portuguese city of Porto have signed a memorandum of understanding to promote friendly relations and extend cooperation that has reciprocal benefits, by complementing the respective strengths of the two places.

The focus of such ties is trade, financial integration and exchanges between people. The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, shared his insight on Macao-Porto ties in an address delivered in Porto on Friday (17 May) in the morning local time.

Mr Chui travelled from Portugal’s capital Lisbon to Porto as part of a visit to that country by a Government delegation.

In Porto, a memorandum of understanding on a cooperation framework for promotion of friendship was signed by Mr Chui and the Mayor of Porto, Mr Rui Moreira, at Porto City Hall. During the ceremony, the Mayor presented Mr Chui with a symbolic "Key to the City".

Speaking during Friday’s ceremony, Mr Chui said Macao paid great attention to contributing its inherent strengths to the development of the “Belt and Road” initiative, in addition to giving better play to the city’s bridging functions and linking roles in serving China and Portuguese-speaking countries.

Mr Chui went on to say that Macao had a “Belt and Road” initiative scholarship programme. It was open to applications either from Macao students wishing to study in places covered by the initiative, or from students in countries and places covered by the initiative wishing to study in Macao. He offered an invitation for young people from Porto to study in Macao.

Mr Chui expressed his appreciation for the honour of being granted a “Key to the City”. He said it symbolised not only a privilege granted to him personally, but also a gesture of esteem directed at Macao as a whole.

The granting of the ‘Key’ would symbolically open the door to bolstering friendly contacts between the two sides, and for the expansion of exchange and cooperation in various fields. These included: trade; tourism; traditional Chinese medicine; cultural heritage preservation; and the exchange of people. Such ties would consolidate the foundation of cooperation and friendship between the two cities, Mr Chui added.

In his remarks, Mr Moreira extended his welcome to the visiting Government delegation and said he was honoured to present a “Key to the City” to Mr Chui.

Noting that 2019 marked the 22nd anniversary of town twinning between Porto and Macao, the Mayor stated that the signing of a memorandum of understanding illustrated a strong commitment to promote exchange and cooperation. This applied particularly in areas such as: the economy and trade; tourism; education; traditional Chinese medicine; youth entrepreneurship; and protection of cultural heritage.

Mr Moreira additionally said he was looking forward to advancing cooperation in training of talented people, including via the “Belt and Road” initiative scholarship programme mentioned by Mr Chui.

The Mayor further stated that Porto would help Macao in its effort to develop as a commercial and trade cooperation service platform between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, in order to promote internationally Porto’s financial services and tourism industry.

On Friday afternoon, the Government delegation visited a Macao company’s project in Porto. The company’s Porto business covers media activities and services for start-ups; it also has a business incubation centre based in mainland China.

Mr Chui said that the company offered opportunities for young people from mainland China, Macao and Portugal. That objective was in line with Macao’s envisioned roles in serving the “Belt and Road” initiative and in assisting the ongoing development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

During the visit, Mr Chui stressed respectively Macao’s proactive integration in a number of national strategies; as well as the growing China-Portugal ties and Macao-Portugal relations. These efforts created fresh opportunities for Macao businesses and young people.

After visiting the Macao company’s Porto project, the Government delegation concluded its nine-day visit to Portugal. The Chief Executive and the rest of the delegation start their journey back home on Saturday (18 May).