Chief Executive to visit Europe

The Chief Executive, Mr Edmund Ho Hau Wah, is scheduled to embark on an official visit to Europe on Sunday (June 18). He is to visit Brussels, the Capital of Belgium and headquarters of European Union (EU), and Lisbon, the capital of Portugal. The visit is aimed at strengthening Macao’s relationship and partnership with the European Union, Belgium and Portugal. In Brussels, Mr Ho is scheduled to pay courtesy calls on the President of the European Commission, Mr José Manuel Durão Barroso, the Prime Minister of Belgium, Mr Guy Verhofstadt, as well as other EU and Belgian officials. On June 21, Mr Ho and his delegation are scheduled to leave Brussels for Lisbon, in where he is to pay courtesy calls on the President of Portugal, Mr Aníbal Cavaco Silva; the President of the Assembly, Mr Jaime Gama; the Prime Minister, Mr José Sócrates; and other Ministers and officials. Members of Mr Ho’s delegation include the Vice President of the Legislative Assembly, Mr Lau Chek Va, and the Secretary for Economy and Finance, Mr Francis Tam Pak Yuen. Mr Ho last visited Portugal in 2000 and EU in 2001. He is scheduled to return to Macao on June 24.