Visita a Portugal, Espanha e etc (abril 26)
OPINION – A strategic outreach: Understanding the Chief Executive’s Europe visit from a development agenda perspective
By MBeditor
Macau Business magazine l May 2026
The Europe visit by the Chief Executive of the Macau Special Administrative Region in April 2026 to Portugal, Spain, and several other countries was far more than a conventional diplomatic exchange. It integrated objectives on economic restructuring, industrial upgrading, and platform building; it represented the construction of a high-level external connection which can generate multi-dimensional and far-reaching contributions to Macau’s economic diversification and sustainable development.
Reinforcing and extending Macau’s “platform” role
Macau has been performing its “platform” role to link China, Portuguese-speaking, and European countries to enhance their economic and trade co-operation. The Chief Executive’s engagement helped to reaffirm this role and contributed to further enhancing the confidence of European governments and businesses in Macau’s position as a bridge. It also helped to elevate this “platform” role from symbolic exchanges to co-operation with substantive economic, trade, and institutional content. Meanwhile, there was a clear economic intent behind the inclusion of Spain in the visit: to further extend Macau’s “platform” role and position Spain as a strategic stepping stone for Macau and Chinese businesses seeking access to Spanish-speaking economies in Europe and Latin America.
Enhancing the practicality and credibility of Macau’s function
The delegation incorporated 120 representatives from the business sectors of Macau, Hengqin, and mainland China, allowing external exchanges to align with concrete projects and co-operation needs. This “government plus enterprise” model allows potential business partners in Europe to recognise that Macau is not merely articulating policy aspirations, but possesses the corporate base and executive capacity required to implement co-operation. It helps to significantly strengthen both the practicality and credibility of Macau’s function.
Supporting new industries and economic diversification
A key contribution of the visit lies in its alignment with the strategic directions of Macau’s economic diversification, given the established strengths of European enterprises in new technologies, innovation, life sciences, and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) standards. The meetings in Europe explicitly identified innovation, green development, higher education, and scientific research as priority areas for more intensive co-operation, serving as important external references for Macau’s transformation towards a knowledge-based and sustainable production structure.
Strengthening Macau’s identity within the Greater Bay Area
During the visit, Macau clearly demonstrated its unique value in international collaboration within the Greater Bay Area (GBA). Through high-level external engagements and the facilitation of tangible co-operation, the visit helped Macau establish a clear functional identity, positioning itself as a precise connector between China and Portuguese-speaking — and potentially Spanish-speaking — countries. It helps Macau to strengthen its influence and visibility in facilitating the outreach of enterprises from the GBA, while supporting European enterprises’ access to the GBA and beyond.
Driving improvements in governance and implementation
The process of translating external engagements into concrete outcomes and co-operative projects places higher demands on the SAR Government’s capacity regarding follow-up mechanisms, cross-departmental coordination, and policy support measures. This, in turn, can encourage a transition from declarative governance towards a results-oriented and project-driven approach, which can ultimately improve the overall administrative effectiveness of the SAR Government.
Broadening the scope
Macau Business magazine l May 2026
Over 100 protocols, high-level meetings, business forums, and the expansion of the city’s platform role from Lusophone to Spanish-speaking countries. These are the main takeaways of Sam Hou Fai’s visit to the Iberian Peninsula. The next step: following through
It was Sam Hou Fai’s maiden overseas trip since taking office as Macau Chief Executive in late 2024. And it was no ordinary mission: a four-leg, week-long European tour – from 18 ro 25 April -with stops in Lisbon, Madrid, Geneva, and Brussels.
The first stop in Lisbon carried the greatest political weight. It has been a long-established tradition since the early days of the Macau SAR that a Chief Executive’s first overseas visit is to the capital of the country that administered the city for over four centuries until 19 December 1999.
Diplomatic tradition and high-level engagement
For those accustomed to following previous missions to Portugal, there were familiar faces and meetings, including sessions with the Portuguese heads of state and government. However, Sam secured an unprecedented line-up of seven high-level meetings, including talks with Portugal’s President, Prime Minister, the country’s top judge, the Speaker of Parliament, and the ministers of foreign affairs, justice, and economy.
The tone of those meetings was primarily focused on the relevance of Sam selecting Lisbon for his first international visit, the historical role of Macau as a bridge connecting Portugal and China, and the new opportunities brought by the city’s push for economic diversification. Discussions also touched upon the regional integration process with Hengqin and the wider Greater Bay Area, alongside the practice of the “One Country, Two Systems” policy.
Some pending issues did not see announcements on new developments, such as a confirmed date for the protracted Macau-Portugal Joint Committee meeting, which has not been held since 2019. Issues of a more complex nature, such as the residence permit scheme for Portuguese nationals and the fugitive surrender agreement, also remain. They were, however, directly or indirectly mentioned in the statements and press conferences that followed the meetings.
Attracting talent and strengthening legal ties
In terms of human resources, Sam Hou Fai expressed hope to attract skilled professionals from Portugal and other Lusophone countries to join the MSAR’s workforce. Regarding the 7th Macau-Portugal Joint Committee meeting, the Chief Executive indicated that although a date has not yet been set, the topic was addressed with Portuguese authorities as a priority.
On the legal cooperation front, while there was no specific reference to the agreement for the surrender of fugitive offenders — signed by both sides in 2019 but yet to be ratified by the Portuguese side — Sam expressed hope for “stronger collaboration with Portugal’s Ministry of Justice, particularly in further implementing comprehensive judicial assistance arrangements between Macau and Portugal, thereby providing robust legal safeguards for bilateral economic, trade, and people-to-people exchanges.”
Economic cooperation took centre stage in the meetings, with Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro stressing that Portugal is eager to see new investments from Macau and mainland China establishing a foothold in the country. Sam emphasised that the SAR is looking forward to welcoming Portuguese companies to the city and the neighbouring Hengqin Cooperation Zone.
Leveraging the Hengqin advantage
In this respect, Carlos Cid Álvares, Chairman of the Macau Delegation of the Portugal-China Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCILC Macau), noted to reporters that those securing an early foothold in the Hengqin Cooperation Zone are set to reap the greatest rewards.
“Companies that establish themselves first in Hengqin will benefit from a significant competitive edge, and investors can facilitate this entry via Macau,” said Carlos Cid Álvares, who also serves as CEO of local bank BNU. He spoke on the sidelines of one of the several events held by Macau’s Commerce and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM), organised in tandem with Sam’s Lisbon and Madrid legs.
Lisbon-based business leaders emphasised the significance of the Chief Executive’s visit to Portugal. Paulo Macedo, CEO of BNU’s parent company, the Portuguese state-owned banking giant Caixa Geral de Depósitos (CGD), told Macau Business that the visit carried “special meaning.”
“Sam’s visit carries a special meaning, in line with the centuries-old special relationship between Portugal and China,” Macedo stressed, adding that in addition to being symbolic, it is also “a forward-looking step regarding future developments.”
From protocol to implementation
In addition to the political and diplomatic messages, the visit saw dozens of agreements and protocols signed during forums hosted by IPIM and official receptions. In Lisbon alone, 61 agreements were signed, ranging from technology, AI, robotics, and ‘big health’ to logistics, finance, education, and culture.
The IPIM-led, 120-strong business delegation comprised leaders of key companies from Macau, Hengqin, and the mainland, including several among China’s top 500 companies. Big health, high-tech, and cross-border e-commerce were the major sectors represented. IPIM President Alex Che expressed confidence that the numerous forums and business-matching events will pave the way for new investments and deals.
“We hope to see new Portuguese high-tech companies entering China’s market,” Che said. A key challenge now is to translate the positive tone of the official meetings and the numerous protocols into new business ventures and government cooperation projects. Sam Hou Fai addressed this by pledging that, feconomic
Opening new paths in Madrid
Hours after meeting with the Portuguese President and Prime Minister, Sam took the short 500 km flight to the Spanish capital, arriving just in time to attend the “Macau Night” event that capped the five-day ‘Experience Macao’ roadshow.
While the visit to Lisbon focused on building upon a centuries-old special relationship, in Madrid the Macau delegation was opening a new path of cooperation with the other – and larger – Iberian nation. The momentum in China-Spain relations – with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez paying four visits to China in four years – set the stage for Sam’s meetings. Key messages were exchanged during discussions with Spain’s Second Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Labour and Social Economy, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, and the Second Vice President of the Senate.
Representatives from the Spanish business community attending the IPIM-hosted Macau-Spain trade cooperation promotion session believe this is a fortunate juncture to boost ties. Geopolitically, “Spain has been able to free itself from the constraints put by the United States on its foreign policy,” notes Carlos Vélez, President of the China-Spain Business Association. “I am very hopeful regarding the future development of Spain-China relations,” he told Macau Business.
A dual gateway for the Ibero-American world
If Portugal is a gateway for Lusophone Africa and Brazil, Spain plays a mirror role for Hispanic Latin America. The expansion of Macau’s Lusophone platform to the Spanish-speaking world was a key takeaway from Sam’s visit to Madrid.
A first step proposed by the Chief Executive involves broadening the scope of the Lisbon-based Macau Economic and Trade Delegation to include Spain.
Raúl Ramírez, a historian, expert in Spain-China relations, and professor at Rey Juan Carlos University, told Macau Business that bundling the Iberian countries and their respective Portuguese and Spanish-speaking nations makes perfect sense. He noted that, historically, “Macau is no stranger to the Hispanic world.” Professor Ramírez argued that Spanish-speaking countries, together with the Lusophone world, should “articulate a common approach to China,” stressing: “We share very close language and cultural values, and Macau is the perfect node for that.”
There was a sense of both familiarity and novelty in the exchanges at the business promotion sessions. In addition to IPIM, the newly launched Hengqin-based Service Centre for Economy and Trade between China and Portuguese/Spanish-speaking Countries (CECPS) played a key role in promoting the neighbouring cooperation zone’s business incentives.
The cooperation protocols and memorandums of understanding signed in Spain – 48 in total, on top of the 61 inked in Portugal – involved a wide range of areas, including green industries, technology, tourism, hospitality, health, pharmaceuticals, food and beverage, traditional Chinese medicine, biotechnology, new energy, MICE, trade, and market expansion.
“Macau is still relatively unknown to the Spanish business community,” Vélez acknowledged, “but through these events, I believe we will forge synergies to cooperate in tourism, e-commerce, technology, and culture. I see plenty of opportunities.”
https://macaubusiness.com/broadening-the-scope/
mai26
Macau reforça laços com a Europa
Maio, 2026
Em Foco
Sam Hou Fai (esq.) cumprimenta o Presidente da República de Portugal, António José Seguro (dta.)6 min.Partilhar
A primeira visita oficial do actual Governo da RAEM à Europa marca um momento decisivo na afirmação internacional de Macau. O périplo por Portugal, Espanha, Suíça e Bélgica revela uma estratégia clara de reforço da cooperação externa, promoção económica e valorização do papel único de Macau como plataforma entre a China e o mundo
Texto Tiago Azevedo
A deslocação do Chefe do Executivo, Sam Hou Fai, à Europa, entre 17 e 26 de Abril, representou mais do que uma agenda de relações externas de alto nível: tratou-se de um momento-chave na afirmação internacional de Macau enquanto plataforma estratégica entre a China e o mundo, sinalizando uma nova fase na articulação entre relações externas, economia e cultura no contexto da Região Administrativa Especial de Macau (RAEM).
A visita, que abrangeu Portugal, Espanha, Suíça e Bélgica, foi simultaneamente simbólica e pragmática, inscrevendo-se numa lógica de continuidade histórica e de renovação estratégica das relações de Macau com a Europa e no importante contexto de abertura do País ao exterior.
Tratou-se da primeira visita oficial ao estrangeiro do actual Governo da RAEM, o que lhe conferiu um peso político particular. Mais do que uma apresentação institucional, representou uma acção concreta para apresentar à comunidade internacional os resultados da implementação bem-sucedida do princípio “um país, dois sistemas” e para consolidar a imagem de Macau como uma região estável, aberta e capaz de gerar oportunidades num contexto global em transformação.
Ao falar à comunicação social antes da partida para a Europa, Sam Hou Fai indicou que a visita representava também uma acção fundamental para implementar a mensagem e as instruções do Presidente Xi Jinping, proferidas aquando da sua visita a Macau no final de 2024.
O Chefe do Executivo disse que pretendia aproveitar ao máximo a vantagem específica de Macau de se “basear nos apoios da Pátria e comunicar com o mundo exterior”, contribuindo para a abertura do País ao exterior, concretizando a estratégia de “colaboração entre governo e empresas” e aprofundando ainda mais a cooperação pragmática com os países europeus nas áreas do comércio, economia, turismo, cultura, ciência e tecnologia, entre outras.
Encontro entre o Chefe do Executivo e o Presidente da República Portuguesa, António José Seguro Sam Hou Fai com a directora-geral da Organização Mundial do Comércio, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
Sam Hou Fai com a ministra do Trabalho de Espanha, Yolanda Díaz Pérez, e o embaixador Yao Jing
Chefe do Executivo cumprimenta Younous Omarjee, vice-presidente do Parlamento Europeu
Durante a visita, foram realizados mais de 46 eventos de diferentes tipos, incluindo encontros de alto nível, sessões de promoção de cooperação económica e comercial, promoções turísticas e intercâmbios culturais e educativos.
A escolha de Portugal como ponto de partida não foi fortuita. Reflecte uma herança histórica e cultural singular que continua a moldar o posicionamento internacional de Macau. Em Lisboa, para além dos encontros com os mais altos responsáveis políticos portugueses, o programa integrou iniciativas culturais e económicas que realçam a pujança das relações bilaterais.
Foco empresarial
Ao mesmo tempo, a presença de uma delegação empresarial alargada – cerca de 120 empresários provenientes de Macau, Hengqin e de várias províncias do Interior da China – revela uma clara orientação para resultados concretos.
O modelo, descrito por Sam Hou Fai como “partilhar um barco para navegar em conjunto”, traduz uma abordagem inovadora, em que o Governo da RAEM e o sector privado actuam de forma coordenada na exploração de mercados internacionais, uma iniciativa que recebeu o forte apoio do Gabinete para os Assuntos de Hong Kong e Macau do Conselho de Estado. A estratégia aponta também para uma transformação do papel de Macau: de intermediário passivo para agente activo na construção de redes económicas transnacionais.
A etapa espanhola reforçou esta ambição de alargamento de horizontes. Madrid surge não apenas como parceira bilateral, mas como porta de entrada para o universo dos países de língua espanhola. A ênfase colocada na cooperação turística – área em que tanto Espanha como Macau são destinos globais de referência – sugere a possibilidade de sinergias que vão além do intercâmbio institucional, envolvendo também inovação, promoção conjunta e diversificação de mercados.Recepção organizada pelo Governo da RAEM em Lisboa
Por outro lado, o diálogo com organizações internacionais, nomeadamente em Genebra e Bruxelas, demonstrou a dimensão multilateral da visita. O encontro com responsáveis da Organização Mundial do Comércio e as reuniões com representantes de instituições da União Europeia sublinham a importância de Macau no quadro das relações económicas globais. A capacidade de estabelecer pontes e participar activamente em assuntos internacionais constitui uma prioridade estratégica do Governo da RAEM.
Papel de Hengqin
A dimensão internacional da visita articula-se com a política interna de diversificação adequada da economia de Macau. A aposta em sectores como turismo, cultura e ciência e tecnologia reflecte a necessidade de reduzir a dependência de actividades tradicionais e de criar novas fontes de crescimento sustentável, segundo as autoridades da RAEM. A visita à Europa funcionou, assim, como um catalisador para a identificação de parcerias, transferência de conhecimento e captação de investimento, contribuindo para a construção de um modelo económico mais equilibrado.
– LER MAIS | Galeria – Visita à Europa –
Ainda no contexto da visita, destaca-se o papel de Hengqin. A integração da Zona de Cooperação Aprofundada entre Guangdong e Macau em Hengqin nas iniciativas de promoção externa demonstra a crescente importância desta plataforma na estratégia de desenvolvimento regional. Hengqin surge como extensão funcional de Macau, oferecendo espaço, recursos e condições para a expansão de projectos que, de outra forma, estariam limitados pelas dimensões físicas da RAEM. A inclusão de empresários de Hengqin na delegação reforça a ideia de uma abordagem integrada, em que Macau e Hengqin actuam em conjunto para potenciar oportunidades.O evento “Noite de Macau” encerrou o plano de actividades em Madrid
No plano simbólico, a visita assume também uma dimensão de intercâmbio cultural. As exposições, os encontros com estudantes e as actividades de intercâmbio reforçam a imagem da RAEM como espaço de encontro entre culturas.
A visita, segundo Sam Hou Fai no balanço feito a 26 de Abril, constituiu uma acção prática para Macau se tornar numa importante plataforma para a abertura de alto nível do País ao exterior e numa janela relevante de intercâmbio e aprendizagem mútua entre as civilizações chinesa e ocidental. Neste sentido, adiantou, o Governo da RAEM irá reforçar a coordenação e acompanhar com empenho a concretização dos resultados alcançados no périplo europeu.
https://www.revistamacau.com.mo/2026/05/01/macau-reforca-lacos-com-a-europa/
may26
Spanish business leaders begin to see Macau as a gateway to the Chinese market
V iagem à Europa concluída com “resultados proveitosos” e “objectivos alcançados”
O Chefe do Executivo fez, ao longo da última semana, a sua primeira visita ao estrangeiro desde que está no cargo, passando por Portugal, Espanha, Bélgica e Suíça. No fim do périplo, Sam Hou Fai descreveu a viagem como um “marco histórico” e indicou que foram atingidos “resultados proveitosos”.
Sam Hou Fai concluiu no domingo a sua primeira visita ao estrangeiro enquanto Chefe do Executivo. Na última semana, o líder do Governo da RAEM passou por Portugal, Espanha, Bélgica e Suíça. Num balanço feito depois do regresso ao território, Sam Hou Fai afirmou que foram obtidos “resultados proveitosos” e “objectivos alcançados”.
Num comunicado divulgado pelo Gabinete de Comunicação Social da RAEM, lê-se que, no âmbito da visita da delegação de Macau à Europa, foram realizados mais de 46 eventos, incluindo encontros de alto nível, uma exposição, sessões de promoção de cooperação económica e comercial, sessões de promoção turística e intercâmbios culturais e educativos, bem como foram assinados mais de 100 protocolos de cooperação a nível governamental e empresarial e alcançado um consenso sobre as áreas da futura cooperação e os projectos relacionados.
Esta nota de imprensa diz que a visita do Chefe do Executivo “apresentou à comunidade internacional os resultados concretos mais significativos alcançados através da implementação bem-sucedida do princípio ‘um país, dois sistemas’ em Macau” e “reforçou de forma abrangente as relações de mútua confiança e o nível de cooperação com os países envolvidos e contribuiu para a abertura de alto nível do país ao exterior”.
Foram também atingidos “resultados positivos na promoção de oportunidades de desenvolvimento em Macau-Hengqin, no reforço do intercâmbio e cooperação com o exterior, na concretização do modelo inovador de ‘partilhar um barco para navegar em conjunto’ e no apoio às empresas do interior da China e de Macau na exploração conjunta dos mercados de expressão portuguesa e espanhola e europeus”.
RELAÇÕES PORTUGAL-MACAU ELEVADAS A UM “NOVO PATAMAR”
A delegação do Governo da RAEM, acompanhada por uma delegação empresarial, começou a sua visita em Lisboa, seguindo para Madrid. O Chefe do Executivo teve encontros com sete dirigentes e altos funcionários dos poderes executivo, legislativo e judicial de Portugal. Ambas as partes deram continuidade à “tradicional amizade entre Macau e Portugal”, “elevando a um novo patamar o nível de intercâmbio e cooperação bilaterais em diversos domínios”, lê-se no comunicado oficial do lado da RAEM.
Segundo o Governo de Macau, “os líderes portugueses reconheceram e avaliaram positivamente, em várias dimensões, os frutos alcançados por Macau na implementação do princípio ‘um país, dois sistemas'”
Em Espanha, foram desenvolvidas novas parcerias, promovendo a cooperação bilateral nas áreas económica e comercial, e turística, abordando também a extensão das funções da plataforma de Macau aos países de língua espanhola. “As visitas a Portugal e Espanha consolidaram ainda mais o papel de Macau enquanto ‘interlocutor com precisão’, contribuindo para o reforço das relações amigáveis de cooperação da China, com os países de língua portuguesa e de espanhola, e a União Europeia”, destaca a nota de imprensa do Gabinete de Comunicação Social.
Em Genebra, na Suíça, Sam Hou Fai reuniu-se com a directora-geral da Organização Mundial do Comércio (OMC), com a representante permanente da China junto da OMC, e com o representante da Missão Permanente da China junto da Organização das Nações Unidas em Genebra e outras organizações internacionais na Suíça, respectivamente, para “aprofundar os mecanismos de ligação, reforçar a articulação entre plataformas e promover um melhor conhecimento das funções da plataforma de Macau por parte das organizações internacionais”. Ao mesmo tempo, o Chefe do Executivo aproveitou a oportunidade para reforçar as funções da Delegação Económica e Comercial de Macau junto da OMC, “injectando assim um novo impulso na participação activa do Governo da RAEM em assuntos internacionais, nomeadamente no comércio multilateral”.
Quanto à visita a Bruxelas, capital belga, Sam Hou Fai teve encontros com o vice-primeiro-ministro belga e ministro do Emprego, Economia e Agricultura, o embaixador da China na Bélgica, e os representantes dos chineses ultramarinos na Bélgica, visando intensificar as trocas económica e comercial bilaterais. Em Bruxelas, o Chefe do Executivo procurou “consolidar e desenvolver a parceria comercial entre Macau e a UE”.
Segundo o Executivo da RAEM, “ambas as partes concordaram em ampliar a cooperação em áreas como a inovação tecnológica, as tecnologias verdes, o ensino superior e as indústrias de cultura e turismo, entre outras”.
“CONTAR BEM AO MUNDO A HISTÓRIA DE ‘UM PAÍS, DOIS SISTEMAS”
A deslocação à Europa permitiu “contar bem ao mundo a história de ‘um país, dois sistemas’ em Macau”, do ponto de vista do Governo da RAEM, demonstrando o que as autoridades consideram ser as “vantagens evidentes e a enorme vitalidade” da implementação deste princípio em Macau. Outro objectivo alcançado foi a promoção de Macau e Hengqin junto das entidades europeias. Por fim, segundo o Executivo, foi “alargada a margem para a cooperação externa em diversas vertentes e contribuir para a abertura de alto nível do país ao exterior”.
Sendo esta a primeira vez que um Chefe do Executivo da RAEM visita Espanha e Genebra, esta viagem constituiu “um marco histórico do empenho da RAEM no alargamento do intercâmbio e cooperação externos”, bem como “demonstrou também a orientação estratégica do actual Governo na extensão das funções da plataforma de Macau e na participação activa dos assuntos internacionais de cooperação multilateral, o que se reveste de um grande e profundo significado”.
Neste sentido, o Governo da RAEM promete reforçar a coordenação e acompanhar com empenho a concretização dos resultados alcançados na visita. “Face às circunstâncias internacionais complexas e instáveis, o Governo da RAEM irá zelar sempre pela defesa do princípio ‘um país’ e aproveitar as vantagens dos ‘dois sistemas'” lê-se no comunicado das autoridades da RAEM, que prometem também tirar “pleno proveito das oportunidades de desempenhar o seu papel singular enquanto ‘interlocutor com precisão’, continuar a desenvolver intercâmbios e cooperações com o exterior e injectar um novo impulso no desenvolvimento da diversificação adequada da economia de Macau e na sua estabilidade e prosperidade a longo prazo, promovendo a implementação estável e duradoura do princípio ‘um país, dois sistemas'”.~
https://pontofinal-macau.com/2026/04/27/viagem-a-europa-concluida-com-resultados-proveitosos-e-objectivos-alcancados/
OPINION – Sam Hou Fai’s Visit to Europe and Macau’s External Relations
- Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai’s multi-nation European tour serves as a significant exercise of Macau’s external autonomy, reinforcing its role as a “super-connector” between China and the Portuguese and Spanish-speaking worlds
- The visit successfully secured dozens of bilateral agreements and revitalised diplomatic channels with the EU and WTO, demonstrating the practical triumph of the “one country, two systems” framework in international para-diplomacy
- https://macaubusiness.com/opinion-sam-hou-fais-visit-to-europe-and-macaus-external-relations/
Sam Hou Fai kicks off Portugal visit with focus on culture and education
Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai has begun a week-long European tour in Lisbon, focusing on Sino-Western cultural exchange and engaging with Macau students
The diplomatic mission includes high-level meetings with Portuguese leaders before continuing to Madrid, Geneva, and Brussels to promote institutional cooperation, trade and investment
By José Carlos Matias, in Lisbon
Macau Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai started his week-long European tour on Saturday in Lisbon, joining initiatives related to cultural exchanges between Macau and the West and meeting with Macau students pursuing their studies in Portugal.
Hours after landing in Lisbon, the Chief Executive’s delegation headed to the Macau Scientific and Cultural Centre to attend the opening ceremony of the exhibition, “Glory of the Mirror Sea: 500 Years of Mutual Learning Between Chinese and Western Civilisations in Macau”. The exhibition was jointly organised with the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macau SAR. He watched performances of intangible cultural heritage from Macau and Portugal and toured the gallery.
Cultural exchanges and youth engagement
The exhibition is grounded in the connections of the Maritime Silk Road to present to the world—through historical paintings, export artefacts, and pieces of intangible cultural heritage—a profound dialogue between Chinese and Western civilisations.
“Macau is fully committed to consolidating its role as a reference gateway for the country’s high-quality opening up to the outside world, as well as a vital window for exchange and mutual learning between Chinese and Western civilisations,” noted Cultural Bureau Director Leong Wai Man at the opening.
Read also: Macau seeks to leverage CE’s visit to attract Portuguese, Spanish firms: IPIM
Another exhibition was inaugurated earlier in the afternoon—”A Glimpse of Chinese Culture”—depicting articles published in Portugal’s daily newspaper Diário de Notícias in a cooperation project with Macao Daily News. This was a joint initiative of the Macau Sino-Lusophone Friendship and Cultural Exchange Association and the Cultural Bureau.
His next stop was a meeting with over 100 Macau students pursuing higher education in Portugal. He put forward three expectations for the students: to focus on their studies, broaden their horizons, and upon completing their degrees, contribute to the nation and Macau. He assured them that the Macau SAR government would provide full support in all aspects.
The event was hosted by the Director of the Education and Youth Development Bureau, Kong Chi Meng. During the Q&A session, students raised concerns about support policies for Macau graduates overseas seeking employment or starting businesses in Hengqin, as well as the mutual recognition of professional qualifications for cross-border practice.
In response to students asking him to share his own experience of studying in Portugal, Sam stated that consideration would be given to the integrated development of the Greater Bay Area and talent support, aiming to create better conditions and policies. He also encouraged students to gain a deeper understanding of the development of the nation and Macau and to equip themselves well.
High-level meetings
Sam’s visit to Lisbon runs until Tuesday and includes high-level meetings with the Portuguese President, António José Seguro; Prime Minister, Luís Montenegro; Speaker of Parliament, José Pedro Aguiar-Branco; and the country’s top judge, João Cura Mariano.
He will also meet with the Minister of Justice, Rita Alarcão Júdice; the Minister of Economy and Territorial Cohesion, Manuel Castro Almeida; and the Minister of State and Foreign Affairs, Paulo Rangel.
Sam Hou Fai departs for Madrid on Tuesday, where he is set to join the “Macau Night”, capping the “Experience Macao” roadshow held by the Macao Government Tourism Office in the Spanish capital. Sam is slated to meet the Second Vice-President of the Government and Minister of Labour and Social Economy, Yolanda Díaz, as well as the Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation.
The Chief Executive travels to Geneva on Thursday, where he is set to hold a meeting with the Deputy Director-General of the World Trade Organization. On Friday, he heads to Brussels—the last leg of his European tour—where he will hold meetings with the European Parliament and senior officials of the European External Action Service.
Expanding trade and investment
Meanwhile, a 120-strong business delegation led by the Macau Commerce and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) arrives in Lisbon this Sunday, on a mission that will also join Sam during his visit to Madrid.
IPIM stated its goal is to attract more foreign companies, “particularly from the technology and ‘Big Health’ [integrated healthcare] sectors, hailing from Portugal and Spain”. According to a press release, IPIM will highlight the “competitive advantages” of establishing operations not only in Macau, but also in the neighbouring special economic zone of Hengqin.
The two sessions will include “business matching platforms” designed to strengthen links between groups from Portugal and Spain on one side, and Macau and mainland China on the other.
https://macaubusiness.com/sam-hou-fai-kicks-off-portugal-visit-with-focus-on-culture-and-education/
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