Organized by the Macao SAR Government Education and Youth Development Bureau, the “3rd Forum for Presidents of Higher Education Institutions of China and Portuguese-Speaking Countries” grandly inaugurated today. This year’s forum, themed “Portuguese Language in China—From Macao and the Greater Bay Area” aimed to leverage Macao’s role a bridge to promote exchanges and cooperation between higher education institutions in China and Portuguese-speaking countries. Prof. Jun Liu, rector of City University of Macau, was invited as one of Macao’s higher education institution representatives to deliver a speech at the opening ceremony. At the opening ceremony, cooperation memoranda were signed with five universities from Portuguese-speaking countries to jointly promote in-depth collaboration in education, enhance educational quality and academic research levels, and provide broader development platforms and opportunities for faculty and students from both sides.
The opening ceremony was graced by guests and officials. Among them were Ao Ieong U, Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture; Li Xuefei, director of the Department of Education and Youth Affairs of the Liaison Office of the Central People’ Government in the Macao SAR; Gao Yuan, director of the Department of Information and Public Diplomacy of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Macao SAR; Kong Chi Meng, director of the Education and Youth Development Bureau; Alexandre José dos Reis Leitão, consul general of Portugal in Macao; Eduardo Velasco Galiano, consul general of Angola in Macao; Manuel Innocencio de Lacerda Santos Junior, consul general of Brazil in Hong Kong; and Aurélio de Jesus Chiconela, acting consul general of Mozambique in Macao. The event also brought together over 100 leaders and experts from more than 80 universities, including University of Macau, Macao Polytechnic University, Macau University of Science and Technology, University of Saint Joseph, as well as institutions from the mainland, Macao, and Portuguese-speaking countries.
In his speech, Rector Jun Liu emphasized that language was not only a carrier of culture but also a bridge for communication. He emphasized that the theme of this forum was of profound significance, reflecting not only a strong commitment to the dissemination and exchange of the Portuguese language and culture but also heralding a new historical starting point where all parties would join hands to explore new avenues and chapters in educational and cultural cooperation. He highlighted that Macao, as a unique bridge between Eastern and Western cultures and the only region in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area where Portuguese was one of the official languages, played an important role in promoting economic, cultural, and educational exchanges between China and Portuguese-speaking countries. He stated that CityU would work together with Chinese and Portuguese universities to enhance mutual understanding through the promotion of the Portuguese language and to facilitate global communication through its application.
To this end, Rector Liu proposed three expectations and hopes: first, take on responsibilities and fully leverage the leading role of Macao’s higher education institutions; second, be pragmatic and innovative in improving the capacity of Portuguese language services for society and the public; and third, adopt a forward-looking approach by promoting regional studies of Portuguese-speaking countries and solidly advancing the high-quality development of international education.
Under the witness of all guests, CityU signed memoranda of understanding and student exchange agreements with Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, State University of Campinas, Polytechnic Institute of Leiria, Polytechnic University of Lisbon, and ISCTE-University Institute of Lisbon during the ceremony. These partnerships not only signified steadfast progress in international cooperation in education and exchange but also demonstrated a strong commitment to promoting academic research and cultural exchanges. Through pragmatic collaboration, both sides would further enhance cultural diversity, as well as understanding and trust, while working together to create a bright future for Portuguese-speaking universities.
Other CityU members in attendance at the opening ceremony included: Ip Kuai Peng, dean of the Institute for Research on Portuguese-Speaking Countries (IROPC); Alves José Lopes Camilo Da Costa, dean of the Faculty of Business (FOB); Afonso Esperança José Paulo, associate dean of FOB; Lopes Simoes Joao Pedro, Assistant Professor at IROPC; Vera Borges, Professor at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences; and Kathy Che Ka I, Director of the Rector’s Office.
