Macau’s Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai last weekend embarked on an eight-day official visit to Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia, where he met with the three Southeast Asian countries’ top government officials.
The delegation includes other Macau government officials.
On his first stop, Sam met with Singapore’s Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Lawrence Wong, among other officials. The two discussed various topics and agreed to strengthen “practical cooperation” between Macau SAR and Singapore, leverage respective strengths, as well as jointly create new opportunities for mutually-beneficial outcomes, according to a press release issued by Macau’s Government Information Bureau (GCS).
During his Singapore visit, Sam also delivered a speech (pictured), themed “Macao under ‘One Country, Two Systems’: Cooperation Opportunities for Singapore and Southeast Asia” at the National University of Singapore.
In the Indonesian capital of Jakarta, Sam delivered a speech at a reception hosted by the Macau SAR Government, saying that Indonesia held a proud and historic role as the place where the idea of the “21st Century Maritime Silk Road” was proposed.
He added that under the visionary guidance of the “Belt and Road” initiative and the China-Indonesia Comprehensive Strategic Dialogue Mechanism, the deep bond of friendship and cooperation between Macau and Indonesia was destined to reach “new, historic heights”.
The chief executive also met with Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto and Minister of Tourism Widiyanti Putri Wardhana. During these two separate meetings, both Macau and Indonesia sides discussed strengthening cooperations in the sectors of economy and tourism.
In Kuala Lumpur, Sam’s final stop, the chief executive met with Malaysian Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Anwar Ibrahim, during which the two exchanged views on enhancing cooperation between Macau and Malaysia in various sectors, including in economy, trade, tourism and culture, according to GCS.
In a meeting with Sim Tze Tzin, Malaysia’s Deputy Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, Sam expressed his hope for enterprises from both sides to strengthen collaboration and work together to enhance connectivity between the major markets of Southeast Asia and mainland China, thereby seizing new opportunities arising from coordinated regional development.
The meeting was also attended by approximately 20 business representatives from Macau, Hengqin and other cities in the mainland, who are accompanying Sam on his official visit to the Malaysian capital.
Meanwhile, the chief executive’s itinerary throughout the eight-day tour has included meeting with Chinese ambassadors and representatives of overseas Chinese communities, as well as visiting universities to forge deeper cooperation in education, among others.
To promote the internationalisation of higher education in Macau, continue to deepen educational cooperation with Malaysia, as well as attract more outstanding global talent to the SAR for further study and development, the ‘Study in Macao’ Education Fair was held by Macau’s Education and Youth Development Bureau (DSEDJ) in Kuala Lumpur on 4 September, drawing over 1,000 visitors.
During the education fair, Sam along with Ouyang Yujing, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to Malaysia, as well as several other Macau officials, including Secretary for Economy and Finance Ng Wai Han, DSEDJ Director Kong Chi Meng and the chief of office to the Chief Executive, Chan Kak, officiated the launch of a series of promotional initiatives for the ‘Study in Macao’ brand in Malaysia.
The ‘Study in Macao’ brand also aims to expand Macau’s international circle of friends, according to the DSEDJ. – GNM
Photo: GCS
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