Chief Executive begins visit to Portugal

(Macao 21 June 2006)The Chief Executive, Mr Edmund Ho Hau Wah, has arrived in Lisbon this morning (Lisbon time) to begin the second leg of his European visit. China’s Ambassador to Portugal, Mr Ma Enhan and the Portuguese Secretary of State for Science, Technology and Higher Education, Mr Manuel Heitor greeted Mr Ho upon his arrival. Soon afterward, Mr Ho paid a courtesy call on the Mayor of Lisbon, Mr António Carmona Rodrigues, who hosted a luncheon for Mr Ho and the Macao SAR Government delegation that Mr Ho is leading. Mr Ho said after the meeting that both Macao and Portugal were willing to strengthen economic and trade relations and the visit would promote bilateral links which would in turn encourage entrepreneurs to look for new opportunities. Mr Ho said he believed both governments would work on this in the future, but then it would depend very much on the market and entrepreneurs. On the issue of democratic development in Macao, he said Macao was a place that embraces both Chinese and Western cultures, and that it has a unique democratic and tolerant atmosphere. He said the way of life in Macao was valued and secured by the Basic Law. In the afternoon, Mr Ho met with the Portuguese Minister of Science and Technology, Mr José Mariano Gago, and the Portuguese Minister of Economy and Innovation of Portugal, Mr Manuel Pinho. He also attended the signing ceremony of two co-operation agreements at the Macao Economic and Trade Office in Portugal. The first agreement was signed by the Macao Chamber of Commerce and the Organising committee for the Macanese entrepreneurs Association of Portugal, and the second one by the Casa de Macao in Portugal and the Macanese Education Promotion Association. In the evening, Mr Ho and the delegation attended a banquet hosted by the Sino-Portuguese Commerce and Industry Association. Mr Ho is scheduled to meet the country’s president, Mr Aníbal Cavaco Silva, and the Prime Minister, Mr José Sócrates, tomorrow.