Macao Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Alexis Tam has said his government, with the support of the Chinese central government, is making a special effort to promote Portuguese language and culture, Lusa reports.

The Portuguese news agency quotes Mr Tam as saying that the number of teachers of Portuguese in Macao has almost doubled, although the report fails to say since when.

Mr Tam said nearly 6,700 secondary school pupils were studying Portuguese in Macao.

He said more and more Macao school leavers were going to university in Portugal, with the help of the Macao government.

Mr Tam was speaking during to a visit by a party of Macao students to the municipal hall in the Portuguese city of Porto, which marked 40 years since Portugal and the People’s Republic of China established diplomatic relations, Lusa says.