Ao Ieong U
I wish to convey my warmest congratulations on the opening of Journeys of Light: Macao Landscape Watercolours from the Macao Museum of Art Collection at the Macau Scientific and Cultural Centre in Lisbon, Portugal!
Since the mid-16th century, Macao has served as a crucial bridge between China and Portugal. In Macao, both peoples have fostered a profound relationship that has left a lasting and widespread impact on the cultural exchange between East and West. The UNESCO World Heritage-listed Historic Centre of Macao bears witness to the historical dialogues which have connected two peoples’ hearts for centuries, with its streets and alleys steeped in rich tradition and legacy. Chinese President Xi Jinping once described the close friendship between China and Portugal with an ancient proverb: ‘A partnership forged with the right approach defies geographical distance; it is thicker than glue and stronger than metal and stone.’ I believe that Macao will continue to work diligently towards furthering this relationship.
In fact, in the ‘Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area’ introduced in 2019, the Chinese central government expresses that the development of Macao is forging towards ‘One Centre, One Platform and One Base’. That is, it is advancing to become a world centre of tourism and leisure, a commercial and trade cooperation service platform between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, and a ‘base for exchange and cooperation with Chinese culture as the mainstream and the coexistence of different cultures.’ By harnessing the advantages of the ‘One Country, Two Systems’ policy and distinctive multilingualism, Macao strives to promote and further the cultural and artistic exchange and cooperation between China and Portugal. The Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao Special Administrative Region Government has conjoined with the Macau Scientific and Cultural Centre to present watercolour landscape paintings by Macao artists in Lisbon – bringing Macao’s Eastmeets- West characteristics to Southern Europe. The show offers an invaluable opportunity for featured Macao artists and their Portuguese counterparts to observe and absorb each other’s works and ideas, while further leveraging Macao’s role as the ‘Cultural Exchange Centre between China and Portuguese-Speaking Countries’.
A Portuguese proverb states, ‘Of oil, wine, and friends, the oldest is the best.’ Macao’s history of more than 400 years of cultural exchange reflects a deep friendship between China and Portugal that is older – and stronger – than most. We will continue to work with our Portuguese friends to cultivate more cultural accomplishments in the future. I wish the exhibition a great success!
AO IEONG U
Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture of the Macao Special Administrative Region Government