On the morning of April 22, Sam Hou Fai, Chief Executive of the Macau Special Administrative Region (SAR), met in Madrid with José Manuel Albares Bueno, Spain’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union, and Cooperation, with the aim of strengthening exchanges and deepening bilateral cooperation in strategic areas.
During the meeting, Sam Hou Fai emphasized that Macau intends to expand the functions of the cooperation platform between China and Lusophone countries to Spanish-speaking countries, starting with Spain, and to promote pragmatic cooperation in sectors such as the economy, trade, tourism, culture, and technological innovation. He also expressed his hope for Spanish support to reinforce Macau’s role as a bridge between China and the Spanish-speaking world.
The official noted that frequent high-level exchanges between China and Spain have contributed to strengthening the global strategic partnership between the two countries.
In this context, Macau, as a special administrative region, has played an active role in promoting external relations, leveraging the “one country, two systems” principle and its experience as a Sino-Portuguese platform, including through the organization of international forums and multilateral initiatives.
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Sam Hou Fai added that the visit to Spain, accompanied by an official and business delegation, aims to implement the Central Government’s guidelines to strengthen the Macau SAR’s openness to the outside world and diversify its international relations.
For his part, José Manuel Albares Bueno welcomed the Macau delegation, noting that the visit represents a significant opportunity to deepen bilateral relations. The minister acknowledged Macau’s potential as a bridge between China, Spain, and other Spanish-speaking countries, highlighting interest in strengthening economic, commercial, and tourism cooperation.
The Spanish official also highlighted Spain’s close ties with Lusophone countries such as Portugal and Brazil, valuing Macau’s role in this context and expressing interest in participating more actively in international events organized in the region. He also noted the importance of promoting high-level visits and supporting the teaching of the Spanish language in Macau, with a view to training qualified personnel.
The meeting was attended by various officials and institutional representatives, including China’s Ambassador to Spain and Andorra, Yao Jing, members of the Macau SAR Government, and officials from entities involved in economic promotion and regional cooperation, underscoring the strategic importance of the initiative.
