Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, meets with Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen (centre, left).
The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, on 12 October met with the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, Mr Hun Sen. During the meeting, at the Santa Sancha Palace, Mr Chui and Mr Hun Sen exchanged views on how to strengthen cooperation between Macao and Cambodia. Mr Chui welcomed the Cambodian Prime Minister to Macao and thanked him for attending the opening ceremony of the Global Tourism Economy Forum • Macau 2015. He noted that Macao and Cambodia have strong bilateral ties covering several areas, including tourism, business and trade. Mr Chui said he hoped that Mr Hun Sen’s visit to Macao could help extend cooperation to other areas, such as culture, training of human resources and exchange of expertise. Mr Hun Sen, visiting Macao for the first time, noted that Macao and Cambodia were both part of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road initiative (also known as “Belt and Road”), put forward by the President of the People’s Republic of China, Mr Xi Jinping. This could help further promote cooperation between Macao and Cambodia, he said. Mr Hun Sen said cooperation between Cambodia and Macao could be intensified in three areas, namely trade, investment and tourism. He added that Cambodia already exports several agricultural goods to mainland China – chiefly rice – and could also increase exports to Macao. The Cambodian Prime Minister noted Macao’s stable economic environment and added that Macao enterprises were welcome to invest in Cambodia. He said launching direct flights between Cambodia and Macao would not only boost bilateral ties but also encourage exchanges between Cambodia and cities close to Macao. The Chief Executive shared the same views. He said the Macao Government would actively explore the possibility of launching direct flights between Macao and Cambodia. Regarding trade and investment cooperation, the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute would serve as a platform to provide support to enterprises from Macao seeking to invest in Cambodia, he stated. Mr Chui additionally said the Cambodian Government could make use of Macao’s role as a commercial and trade cooperation service platform between China and Portuguese-speaking countries to promote its agricultural products overseas. Cambodian representatives attending the meeting included: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister in Charge of the Office of the Council of Ministers, Mr Sok An; the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Cambodia to the People’s Republic of China, Ms Lok Chumteav Khek Cai Mealy Sysoda; the Minister of Tourism, Mr Thong Khon; and the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications, Mr Prak Sokhonn. Representatives of the Macao Government in the meeting included: the Secretary for Administration and Justice, Ms Chan Hoi Fan; the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Mr Tam Chon Weng; the Chief-of-Office of the Chief Executive’s Office, Ms O Lam; and the Director of Protocol, Public Relations and External Affairs Office, Mr Fung Sio Weng.