CE meets with new Ministry of Foreign Affairs Commissioner

Ye Dabo (left) and Chui Sai On

The Chief Executive, Chui Sai On, met with the new Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ye Dabo, stating that the support given by the Office of the Commissioner has been an important factor in facilitating the SAR’s external affairs and long-term development.
He replaces Hu Zhengyue, who was appointed by the central government to the Macau post in 2011.
During Monday’s meeting at the government headquarters, the CE said that the good lines of communication between the government and the office have strengthened since the establishment of the SAR 15 years ago.
Ye was briefed on the economic situation of Macau. Chui said that the government was using the ongoing adjustment period of the city’s economy to foster industry diversification and to strengthen regional cooperation.
The new Commissioner explained his action plan for the future, which includes building up the city’s external relations through inviting foreign leaders to Macau, and sending the SAR’s own senior officials abroad. He also indicated that he intends to assist Macau in joining international organizations and hosting more international conferences, in order to enhance the territory’s profile.
Ye said that the Office of the Commissioner would strengthen its contributions to the transformation of Macau into a world center for tourism and leisure, and develop the commercial and trade service platform between China and the Portuguese-speaking countries – known as the “Centre and Platform” strategy. In addition he reaffirmed Macau’s role in the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road Initiative.
Ye Dabo was appointed the new Commissioner on October 23, following his time at the General Office of the Foreign Affairs Leading Group. He was born in 1956 in Quanzhou in Fujian province and has held a number of diplomatic and foreign affairs-oriented posts including in Taiwan and the United States. He also spent  a  few  years in the Commonwealth of Dominica, Sri Lanka and the Maldives as a plenipotentiary after being promoted into the General Office of the Foreign Affairs Leading Group in 1997.
Before Ye’s foreign affairs career, the mainland official worked as an English teacher in a secondary school and then moved on to work for Fujian Normal University after he graduated from the institution. In addition, Ye worked for a journalistic association as a part-time translator.