The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, and the Senior Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Kingdom of Cambodia, Mr Prak Sokhonn, represent their respective administrations at the signing of the "Memorandum of Understanding between the Macao Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Kingdom of Cambodia On Cooperation Framework for Promotion of Friendship", during a ceremony held in Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia.
The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, today said the Government was looking forward to pursuing shared growth in Macao-Cambodia cooperation via discussion and collaboration envisaged under the “Belt and Road” initiative.
The two sides would complement their respective strengths via the development of the “Belt and Road” initiative, with a focus on the initiative’s goals of “unimpeded trade”, “financial integration”, and “people-to-people bond”.
Mr Chui shared his visions for such cooperation with the Senior Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Kingdom of Cambodia, Mr Prak Sokhonn, during a meeting held in Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia.
Mr Chui and a SAR Government delegation arrived in Phnom Penh today for a three-day visit.
Following the initial meeting of the visit, the two officials represented their respective administrations at the signing of the “Memorandum of Understanding between the Macao Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Kingdom of Cambodia on Cooperation Framework for Promotion of Friendship”.
Macao and Cambodia had developed close relations over the years, Mr Chui said. The Memorandum signed today showed exchanges and cooperation between the two sides had been making significant progress.
The Memorandum would also enable Macao and Cambodia to work more closely in the fields of tourism training and management, and cultural affairs, particularly via boosting of cooperation on tourism via Macao’s robust communities of returned overseas Chinese.
Mr Chui noted Macao and Cambodia had signed in March the “Memorandum of Understanding between Siem Reap Province of the Kingdom of Cambodia and the Macao Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China on the Establishment of Friendship Relation”.
During today’s meeting, Mr Chui noted 2018 marked the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Cambodia. He also noted the establishment in 2010 of the two countries’ partnership in relation to comprehensive strategic cooperation.
The Chief Executive pointed out that China-Cambodia relations were at their strongest for some time, highlighting the strong support of Cambodia for the “Belt and Road” initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping.
Countries in Southeast Asia, including Cambodia, were key partners for Macao in helping the city to push forward its contributions to the “Belt and Road” initiative, said Mr Chui.
At the meeting Mr Chui outlined Macao’s latest economic developments, including the city’s effort to forge ahead its strategic positions as a world centre of tourism and leisure; and as a commercial and trade cooperation service platform between China and Portuguese-speaking countries (collectively known as the “Centre and Platform” policies).
Mr Prak Sokhonn said during the meeting that Mr Chui’s visit to Cambodia would reinforce the two sides’ ties and help promote further economic opportunities. He added the Cambodian government expected there would be further contributions from Macao to the “Belt and Road” initiative, based on the SAR’s advantageous position in relation to the principle of “One country, two systems”.
The Senior Minister reviewed the relationship between China and Cambodia, saying the two countries had achieved fruitful results over years of growing cooperation. In terms of geographical location, Cambodia was a key waypoint for the “Belt and Road” initiative, he added.
The Premier of the State Council of China, Mr Li Keqiang, had initiated, during his visit to Cambodia in January, a series of events celebrating the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Cambodia, said Mr Sokhonn.
The Senior Minister also expressed his gratitude for a Macao scholarship scheme allowing Cambodian young people to study in Macao.
Officials attending today’s meeting in Phnom Penh included: the Secretary for Economy and Finance, Mr Leong Vai Tac; the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Mr Tam Chon Weng; Members of the Executive Council, Mr Cheang Chi Keong; Mr Chan Meng Kam; Ms Ho Sut Heng; the Chief-of-Office of the Chief Executive’s Office, Ms O Lam; and the Director of the Protocol, Public Relations and External Affairs Office, Ms Lei Ut Mui.
The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to the Kingdom of Cambodia, Mr Xiong Bo, was also present at the meeting.
The Memorandum relating to friendship signed today in Phnom Penh aimed to advance development of Macao and Cambodia in relation to the respective economies of the places, trade, tourism, culture, youth affairs and other various fields conducive to mutual contribution to the “Belt and Road” initiative.
According to the Memorandum, the two sides will strengthen non-governmental and official exchanges and cooperation; and step up efforts on exchanges and cooperation on training in relation to tourism studies and cultural heritage protection, with an aim to promote Macao as a world centre of tourism and leisure and enhance the development of Cambodia in related fields.
The Memorandum is also designed to lead to enhancement of the role of Macao as a commercial and trade cooperationservice platform between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, including the promotion of agricultural products from Cambodia within Portuguese-speaking countries.
Under the Memorandum, the two sides will: organise a ”Belt and Road” initiative visit programme, providing opportunities for mutual learning and cooperation between young people, business associations and students from the two places; and increase the scope – in quota terms – of a “Belt and Road Scholarship”, scheme established by the Macao Foundation, for Cambodian students.
While in Phnom Penh, the Chief Executive attended a youth round-table session – hosted by the SAR Government – discussing opportunities arising from the “Belt and Road” initiative.
Mr Chui also met respectively with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to the Kingdom of Cambodia, Mr Xiong Bo.
