On the evening of 21 January, Chief Executive of Macao Sam Hou Fai hosted a banquet for foreign consul-General and officials and representatives of the Permanent Secretariat of the Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-Speaking Countries (Macao). In his speech, he said that the Macao Special Administrative Region will continue to vigorously promote cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, continuously deepen cooperation with Southeast Asian countries, and comprehensively promote practical cooperation with other countries in various fields.

Sam pointed out that the Macao Special Administrative Region has all along maintained friendly relations with Portuguese-speaking countries and Southeast Asian countries, and the exchanges and cooperation between the two sides have constantly achieved new results. This would not have been possible without the excellent work and hard work of all Consul-General and representatives.

He said that in the past year, the Macao SAR economy maintained the momentum of recovery, the society was full of vitality, ethnic harmony, and Macao was also a year of happy events, major events and events. We warmly celebrated the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China and the 25th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland, and successfully held the sixth Ministerial Conference of the Forum.

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​ It solemnly declared to the world the firm position of comprehensively, accurately and unswervingly implementing the policy of "one country, two systems", and demonstrated the grand road and bright prospects of the policy.

​ This profoundly reveals the great significance of "one country, two systems" in The Times and the world, and provides Macao's experience and China's wisdom for the current chaotic and intertwined world.

​ To expand international contacts in a more open and inclusive manner and enhance global influence and appeal; We will strive to build a platform for opening up at a higher level, further intensify two-way opening-up, and promote all-round and mutually beneficial cooperation with Portuguese-speaking countries. Actively participate in high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, expand the international "circle of friends", and build an important bridgehead for China's high-level opening up. We should make good use of the cultural advantages of China and the West to promote international cultural exchanges, tell the stories of Macao and China well, and create an important window for exchanges and mutual learning between Chinese and Western civilizations.

Sam Hou Faii said that at present, China is comprehensively promoting the building of a strong country and the great cause of national rejuvenation with Chinese modernization, promoting opening-up at a higher level, constantly providing new important opportunities and space for the development of other countries, and providing China's solutions and contributing China's strength to world peace and stability. Since Macao's return to the motherland 25 years ago, the practice of "one country, two systems" with Macao characteristics has achieved great success, and Macao has undergone earth-shaking changes. The golden card of "Macao, China" as an international metropolis is more shining. Different civilizations live in harmony and integrate and develop, and Macao's international influence and popularity have been greatly enhanced and highly recognized by the international community. The construction of the Hengqin Guangdong-Macao In-depth Cooperation Zone has been deepened, opening up greater space for Macao's development. Under the greatest institutional advantage of "one country, two systems", Macao has become a hot land for international investment, and also provides unique and superior conditions for creating a highland for international high-end talents.

​ Macao will give full play to its unique advantages, strengthen the function of internal communication and external communication, and better play the role of a bridge and platform, and work with the Consul-General and representatives in Macao to actively promote practical and friendly cooperation between countries in various fields with China and the Macao Special Administrative Region, and jointly open up new prospects for exchanges and cooperation:

First, continue to vigorously promote cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries. As the only region in the world where Chinese and Portuguese are the official languages, Macao plays an important role as a platform for promoting economic and trade cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries. Exchanges and cooperation with Portuguese-speaking countries occupy an important position and are of outstanding significance in the Macao Special Administrative Region's external relations. Thanks to our joint efforts, China-Portugal cooperation has made remarkable achievements. We need to further enrich and expand the role and functions of the China-Portugal platform, actively implement the agreements and arrangements of the Sixth Ministerial Conference of the Forum, especially the Action Plan on Economic and Trade Cooperation (2024-2027), and constantly promote equality, mutual benefit and win-win cooperation to raise China-Portugal cooperation to a higher level.

Second, continuously deepen the cooperation between the Macao Special Administrative Region and Southeast Asian countries. The Macao Special Administrative Region and Southeast Asian countries enjoy close geographical location, close economic and trade cooperation, frequent people-to-people exchanges and warm cultural exchanges. They have all along been traditional good neighbors and good partners. We should build on the good foundation of traditional cooperation and work with Southeast Asian countries to seize new opportunities, further tap the potential of cooperation in all aspects, and promote the cooperation between Macao and Southeast Asian countries to achieve more fruitful results.

Third, we need to comprehensively advance practical cooperation with other countries in various fields. We look forward to working with other countries to further strengthen official exchanges, continue to establish and improve various exchange and cooperation mechanisms, and take this as a guide to comprehensively promote people-to-people exchanges and cooperation.