CE vows to advance Macao-Malaysia relations and practical cooperation

MACAU, September 4 - The Chief Executive, Mr Sam Hou Fai, said on Thursday (3 September) that the aim of his visit to Malaysia was to honour the friendly relations between Macao and Malaysia, build stronger consensus and take practical cooperation between the two sides to a new level.

In a speech delivered at a reception hosted by the Macao Special Administrative Region (MSAR) Government in the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur, Mr Sam said Macao aspired to serve as a strong bridge supporting deeper strategic cooperation between Malaysia and the Chinese mainland, fostering mutual benefit, shared success and synergistic growth.

Malaysia’s Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr Tiong King Sing; Malaysia’s Deputy Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, Mr Sim Tze Tzin; Chinese Ambassador to Malaysia, Mr Ouyang Yujing; and Macao’s Secretary for Economy and Finance, Ms Ng Wai Han, were among the officiating guests of the event.

The Chief Executive told the gathering that China and Malaysia enjoy a deep, generation-spanning friendship – as close neighbours, sincere partners, and trusted friends who share a brotherly bond. He recalled that, in April 2025, President Xi Jinping paid a historic state visit to Malaysia, during which the two countries agreed to build a high-level strategic China-Malaysia community with a shared future. The visit ushered in a brand-new “golden 50 years” for bilateral relations, with the landmark agreement injecting fresh momentum into regional peace, prosperity and development, while unlocking significant opportunities for Macao to deepen its cooperation with Malaysia, Mr Sam said.

The Chief Executive stated that Macao and Malaysia are bound by history as pivotal nodes along the “Maritime Silk Road”, enjoying deep cultural affinity and enduring ties. Capitalising on the convenience of mutual visa-free entry policies and direct flights between the two places, bilateral cooperation has flourished across trade, investment, tourism, conventions and exhibitions (MICE), and education. Malaysia is not only a vital source of international visitors for Macao, but also a partner with immense potential in cultural exchanges, educational cooperation, and the promotion of Muslim-friendly tourism.

Mr Sam noted that the MSAR Government had published in August its Third Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development of the MSAR (2026-2030) and was now moving forward with its implementation. The blueprint closely aligns Macao’s development goals with national strategies, strengthens the city’s competitive edge and enables it to better serve the country’s overall development. As part of this work, the MSAR Government is fully committed to realising its vision of a “Law-based Macao”, a “Vibrant Macao”, a “Cultural Macao”, and a “Blissful Macao”.

The Chief Executive noted that Malaysia had unveiled last year its 13th Malaysia Plan, mapping out a bold development blueprint for the next five years. He said Macao sought to strengthen coordination with Malaysia in macro-level planning, expressing hope that the two sides would promote sustainable growth and improve wellbeing of their respective peoples by deepening practical cooperation, namely in tourism and MICE, the digital economy, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), green energy, and cross-boundary e-commerce.

Mr Sam urged members of the business delegation accompanying him on the official visit to three Southeast Asian countries – including representatives from Macao, Hengqin, and the Chinese mainland – to seize this opportunity to enhance communication and deepen mutual trust with their Malaysian counterparts. He invited people from all sectors in Malaysia to visit Macao for business exploration, strategic investment, and leisure travel.

The Chief Executive also mentioned that the Belt and Road Scholarships for study in Macao were now fully accessible to students from Malaysia. He encouraged talented young people in the country to apply for the programme and pursue higher education in Macao or in the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin. This, he added, would help cultivate the robust talent reserve needed to sustain and drive the continuous growth of bilateral ties between Macao and Malaysia.

In his speech, Minister Tiong said Malaysia occupied a crucial position within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). He noted that, on one hand, ASEAN’s overall economy has sustained growth in recent years, making its market increasingly attractive to international businesses; Macao, on the other hand, is part of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, a region with a vast consumer market and innovation capabilities. Mr Tiong said Malaysia and Macao had scope to better connect their respective networks, enabling businesses to pursue broader development opportunities between ASEAN and the Greater Bay Area.

Mr Tiong emphasised that Malaysia was willing to actively respond to requests for strengthened cooperation in trade, tourism, and education. He expressed hope that the visit by the MSAR delegation led by Mr Sam would open additional avenues for collaboration. Both sides could actively improve conditions and connections to enable businesses, educational institutions, tourism operators, and cultural groups from Malaysia and Macao to participate in and generate tangible results from cooperation, he said.

He added that Malaysia and Macao could promote sustainable tourism exchanges and jointly develop new tourism products. Industry participants in both places could conduct thorough market research into areas including travel routes, joint promotional initiatives, and more convenient air connections, boosting tourism cooperation. An increase in visitor numbers would benefit not only the tourism industry but also the catering, retail and MICE sectors, as well as the wider local economies.

Cooperation in education was also worth pursuing in the long term, noted Mr Tiong. Exchange programmes, including those involving young people and students, would foster friendship and mutual understanding, providing a natural and solid foundation for future Malaysia-Macao cooperation, he said. Mr Tiong welcomed the establishment of more direct links between universities and different industries, particularly tertiary institutions specialising in tourism and related fields.

Eight cooperation agreements were signed at the reception, covering: trade and investment, tourism promotion, cultural tourism, higher education, industry-academia-research cooperation, halal certification, and training of TCM professionals.

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