Delegation Led by Chairman of the University Council and Member of the Legislative Assembly Chan Meng Kam Visited East Timor Promoting Economic and Cultural Exchange

With the aim to promote economic and cultural exchange of Macau and East Timor, Chairman of the University Council and Member of the Legislative Assembly Chan Meng Kam led a delegation with Vice Chairman of Council Yan Zexian and Rector Shu Guang Zhang to visit Dili, East Timor on 27-29 September and were warmly welcomed by the local government and tertiary institutions.

On 28 September, President of the National Parliament of East Timor Adérito Hugo da Costa met with the delegation. He introduced the political and economic development of East Timor and expressed his wish to cooperate with Macau in terms of economy and culture, which Chairman Chan responded positively. Moreover, the delegation visited the Presidential Palace where Head of East Timor President Office Rui A. Gomes demonstrated the developmental strategies of East Timor and hoped that the Institute for Research on Portuguese-speaking Countries of CityU can give advices on the policies. In addition, the delegation visited the Acting Minister of Education Dulce de Jesus Soares. They discussed the possibility of cooperation including recognition of certificate of both universities, training of educators and student exchange. During their stay, the delegation also met with Ministry of Trade, Industry and Environment Constâncio da Conceição Pinto and Head of Logistics Nívio Magalhães in which they elaborated on the promotion for the trade of goods and services between Macau and East Timor. Last but not least, the delegation conducted a meeting with Rector Lucas da Costa and other university representatives from Universidade da Paz, the largest private university of East Timor.

The trip to East Timor has enhanced the connection between Macau, CityU and East Timor and advocated the collaboration between Macau and East Timor in terms of society, economy and culture for sophisticated academia and education.