Macao and Portugal will work to improve the teaching of Portuguese, while strengthening co-operation in economic and trade matters, says the Macao Government.

At a meeting of the Macao-Portugal Joint Committee in Lisbon on Monday, Macao’s Chief Executive Chui Sai On said both governments would increase student exchanges. Mr Chui also thanked Portugal for their support in teaching the language.

The government’s statement said Macao would continue to support Portuguese companies doing business in mainland China and develop as a platform between the mainland and Portuguese-speaking countries.

At the same meeting, Portugal’s Foreign Affairs Minister Augusto Santos Silva said Lisbon would support the training of Portuguese teachers in Macao, and he praised Macao’s role as a business platform and centre for promoting the Portuguese language.

The first meeting of the Macao-Portugal Joint Committee was held in Lisbon in 2011.