Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai met with Olof Skoog, deputy secretary general for Political Affairs of the European Union’s European External Action Service, at the EU headquarters in Brussels yesterday, the Macau Government Information Bureau (GCS) announced in a statement today.
According to the statement, Sam and Skoog exchanged views on topics such as further consolidating and expanding the two sides’ economic and trade partnership, and the synergistic development of high and new technology industries.
Sam arrived in Brussels yesterday following visits to Geneva, Madrid, and Lisbon.
Sam said that since Macau's return to the motherland in 1999, the “One Country, Two Systems” principle has been successfully practised, society has remained harmonious and stable, and appropriate economic diversification has been steadily advancing. Macau is comprehensively implementing the spirit of President Xi Jinping’s important speeches and instructions, focusing on continuously advancing its positioning as “One Centre, One Platform, and One Base”, Sam was quoted by the statement as saying.
The Macao Special Administrative Region (MSAR) Government looks forward to closer alignment with the EU in areas such as innovation, green development, and industry-academia-research collaboration, helping China-EU relations produce mutual benefit and win-win results within the broader context of China’s high-level opening up, Sam said.
Sam pointed out that the MSAR Government attaches great importance to consolidating and further developing the friendly relations established between Macau and the EU since the 1990s. The Agreement for Trade and Cooperation between the European Economic Community and Macau, concluded between Macau and the then European Economic Community in 1992, covers cooperation in fields such as economic and trade matters, and technology. Over the years, the two sides have established a very close trade partnership, Sam pointed out, expressing hope of resuming the meetings of the EU-Macao Joint Committee, adding that the MSAR Government is studying the matter, and hopes to receive the EU’s support.
The committee has not met since 2019.
The MSAR Government is systematically advancing the construction of four major projects, Sam noted. Among them, the Macao Technology Research Industrial Park is expected to attract foreign research institutions to establish themselves and develop there. There are also plans to establish a government guidance fund to pool and channel capital into key industries and projects. Macau is fully prepared jointly to develop high-tech industries with research institutions from Europe and from across the globe, he said.
Meanwhile, preparations for the construction of the Macao International Integrated Tourism and Cultural Zone are being stepped up, Sam said. He invited members of Europe’s literary and artistic circles to participate in the zone.
Sam also said that Macau hopes to receive continued strong support from the EU to deepen exchanges and cooperation in various fields such as economic and trade matters, and culture. It welcomes enhanced cooperation with the EU in innovation, green development, and in industry-academia-research collaboration. Sam also expressed hope that the EU would continue to support the promotion of the Portuguese language in Macau, and assist the MSAR in training professionals proficient in Portuguese, English and French translation work.
Skoog noted that Macau and the EU share a long history of cultural, economic, and trade ties. He said that the EU is an important partner of Macau, serving as both its second-largest trading partner and its third-largest source of foreign direct investment (FDI), with strong potential for further cooperation.
The Office of the European Union to Hong Kong and Macau also frequently organises events in the MSAR, with themes mostly centred on green transition, trade exchanges, and sustainable development, Skoog noted.
Skoog also said that thanks to the meeting the EU has gained a deeper understanding of Macau's latest economic development strategy and the MSAR Government’s strategic deployments for economic development. He emphasised that the EU fully agrees that the two sides can expand cooperation in areas such as innovative technology, green technology, higher education, and cultural and tourism industries.
During the meeting, the two sides also discussed the impact of the current international situation on global trade and resources. Both Macau and the EU expressed hope that global free trade will remain unimpeded, and that the flow of goods and services will be maintained, according to the statement.
Other officials attending yesterday’s meeting included the head of the Chinese Mission to the EU, Ambassador Cai Run; the chief-of-office of the Chief Executive’s Office, Chan Kak; the director of the Macao Economic and Trade Office to the European Union in Brussels, Lúcia Abrantes dos Santos; and the acting head of China Division, European External Action Service, Nicoletta Pusterla.
N.B. Translation provided by GCS. Minor editors by the Post.
Caption: Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai shakes hands with Deputy Secretary-General of the European External Action Service Olof Skoog during a working meeting at the EU headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, yesterday. – Photo: GCS
