Tam visits Portugal to discuss educational partnerships

Alexis Tam and Nuno Crato

Alexis Tam is visiting Portugal and has met with the Portuguese Minister of Education, Nuno Crato, to discuss partnership projects between Macau and Portugal, particularly in the fields of special needs education and Portuguese language teaching.
During the meeting held on Tuesday, the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture said that Macau is lacking technicians specialized in speech and occupational therapies.
According to a statement published by the Government Information Bureau, Mr Crato showed a willingness to initiate the cooperation project as soon as possible, and revealed that the recruitment process would be coordinated by the Ministry of Education.
During the meeting, Alexis Tam and Nuno Crato discussed their views on issues of mutual interest, such as a strategy to transform the MSAR into a training base of Portuguese language for the Asia-Pacific region, and support for the Portuguese School of Macau.
Mr Crato, who visited Macau in April 2014, stated that the bilateral cooperation between Macau and Portugal is “essential,” mentioning joint projects currently ongoing at the Macau Polytechnic Institute and at the University of Macau.
Alexis Tam’s visit to Portugal included stops at the Macau Economic and Trade Office in Lisbon to learn more about the office’s daily operation, and the Champalimaud Foundation, where he was briefed on the foundation’s facilities, research projects, treatment center, cancer prevention and diagnosis methods, laboratory and other facilities for scientific investigation.
Mr Tam also met with the President of the Portuguese Association of Travel and Tourism Agents to introduce the Central Government Maritime Silk Road initiative, in which Macau is expected to play a special role in tourism.
Officials who accompanied Mr Tam in Portugal included the Acting Director of the Macau Economic and Trade Office in Lisbon, Ms Maria Gabriela dos Remédios César.