To fulfill the national development strategy and the Belt and Road Initiative, with the approval of the Chief Executive of Macao SAR, a delegation comprising of members and the Secretariat of the Working Committee for the Development of “Belt and Road” Initiative, and representatives from relevant government departments paid a working visit to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam from August 15 to 17, to start the friendship city cooperation between two cities.

On August 16, the delegation held a working meeting with the Department of External Affairs of Ho Chi Minh City. Both parties exchanged views on achieving enhanced collaborations with mutual concerns. Ms. Lei Ut Mui, Director of The Protocol, Public Relations and External Affairs Office of the Macao SAR and Mr. Le Quang Long, Director General of the Department of External Affairs of the Ho Chi Minh City then signed the “Memorandum of Understanding on Friendship City and Cooperation between the Macao Special Administrative Region, the People’s Republic of China and Ho Chi Minh City, the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam”. Mr. Le Quang Long also hosted a welcoming lunch for the delegation.

According to the Memorandum, the Macao SAR and Ho Chi Minh City establish a close and solid friendly relations under the principal of equality and reciprocity, which aims to promote closer collaboration in culture, education, society and economy, and encourage regular exchange of visits between two cities.

In the afternoon, the members of the delegation met with the Investment and Trade Promotion Centre of Ho Chi Minh City, Department of Culture and Sports, Department of Tourism and Department of Education and Training of Ho Chi Minh City respectively. In-depth discussions were carried out on extensive exchanges of friendship city cooperation.

The delegation also paid a courtesy visit to Mr. Wu Jun, Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Ho Chi Minh City. Director Lei Ut Mui expressed appreciation to the support from the Consulate General and concluded the achievement made in the working visit.

This official visit has deepened understanding and mutual trust between Macao SAR and Ho Chi Minh City. With the principle of achieving shared growth through discussion and collaboration, both parties agreed to explore complementary advantages in benefit for a practical and win-win cooperation.

Participants of this official delegation also include Mr. Cheng Wai Tong, Deputy Director of the Macao Government Tourism Office; Ms. Han Jing, Head of Regional Development Department of the Policy Research and Regional Development Bureau; Mr. Wong Kin Mou, Chief of Department of Research and Educational Resources of the Education and Youth Affairs Bureau; Mr. Chan Kai Meng, Manager of Local Convention and Exhibition Promotion Division of the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute and Mr. Cheang Kai Meng, Head of Division of Recreational Activities of Department of Performing Arts Development of the Cultural Affairs Bureau.