![](https://www.gov.mo/en/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2015/07/1_A0622072015.jpg)
The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, met with the Minister of Tourism, Investment and Enterprise Development of Republic of Cape Verde, Ms Leonesa Fortes, to exchange views in strengthening bilateral co-operation. After welcoming Ms Fortes to Macao at a meeting on 22 July, Mr Chui said Macao and Cape Verde had laid a solid foundation for co-operation over the years and would forge closer ties to every aspect. He thanked the Government of Cape Verde for the continued efforts and contributions in maintaining friendly relations between the two places, adding as an important member of the Portuguese-speaking countries - Cape Verde had a close partnership with Macao. Ms Leonesa Fortes, who visited Macao for the first time, said Cape Verde was able to develop a leisure and tourism project thanks to the support of Macao Government and the long-term friendly co-operative relations. She said Cape Verde-Macao co-operation had been achieving good results, adding Cape Verde Government would take advantages of Macao’s network in trade and commercial services to step up ties with other Portuguese-speaking countries, and said she hoped to establish economic co-operation with the mainland. The Government would make strong efforts to transform Macao to a commercial and trade co-operation service platform between China and the Portuguese-speaking countries, Mr Chui stressed. The Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Mr Tam Chon Weng, who was also present in the meeting, said the tourism project in Cape Verde would further expand its co-operation scope with Macao. He also thanked the long-term support of the Chinese Embassy in Cape Verde to the co-operation. Officials who were also in the meeting included Secretary for Economy and Finance Mr Leong Vai Tac; Honorary Consul of Cape Verde in Macao and President of Macau Legend Development Ltd Mr David Chow; Ambassador of the Republic of Cape Verde in China Mr Júlio Morais; Cape Verde Delegate of the Permanent Secretariat to the Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries Mr Mário Vicente.