Chief Executive completes three-day visit to Malaysia

The Chief Executive, Mr Edmund Ho Hau Wah, today paid courtesy calls on the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Dato' Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia, Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Bin Syed Jaafar Albar. Speaking to the press in the afternoon in concluding his three-day visit to Malaysia, Mr Ho said he was pleased with the results of the visit, as both sides have agreed to increase exchanges in tourism, culture and education. He said the Middle East and India were targets of Macao's tourism sector in the future, and Macao could work with Malaysia to develop these markets, in which the latter had extensive networks and experience. Mr Ho also disclosed that the authorities of Melaka have agreed to provide venues for Macao to promote its tourism industry and culture. He also noted that many Malaysian corporations had expressed interests in entering the markets in Macao. Earlier in the morning, Mr Ho attended a trade promotion activity entitled ''Malaysia-Macao Economic Co-operation Seminar'', where the Macau Government Tourist Office signed a memorandum of co-operation with the Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board. The Macao Chamber of Commerce also signed a memorandum with the National Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (NCCIM) at the same event. Later, Mr Ho attended a banquet hosted by China's Ambassador to Malaysia, Mr Cheng Yonghua, before leaving for Singapore.