It will be officially announced soon, but Plataforma can already confirm that the Chief Executive’s first official trip to the West will be to Portugal. April is the indicative time frame for this trip, which is already being intensively prepared by the diplomatic channels of both sides. As it is traditional in these cases, also because in Portugal foreign policy has dual competence, PLATAFORMA also confirmed the direct involvement of the Presidency of the Republic in this operation, which means that Ho Iat Seng will also be received by Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.
This is Ho Iat Seng’s first official visit outside China, which is why the choice of Portugal is being seen as a relevant political signal at a time when the circumstances of the pandemic crisis have paralyzed political contacts abroad, but also some distrust on the part of the Portuguese community living in Macau about their future, as well as the role they may represent in the civilizational design of a formal autonomy, being it increasingly focused on its regional integration.
Also read: Ho Iat Seng challenges Macau Trade Association to continue uniting and leading the sector
Official sources still refuse to comment on this trip, but our newspaper can advance that Ho Iat Seng takes as a focal point of his agenda “the importance of the Portuguese language and culture as a differentiating factor and a competitive advantage of Macau in relation to other regions of China. A mission with special significance in the context of the exodus of the Portuguese community during the pandemic crisis. Read editorial (page 3) and pages 4 to 7.
