President of Portugal Aníbal António Cavaco
Silva visited the University of Macau (UM) today (18 May) and expressed hope to
further strengthen exchanges in scientific research and Portuguese teaching
between universities in Macao and Portugal and carry out more collaborations in
the future. During his visit, UM signed collaboration agreements and memoranda
of understanding with two Portuguese universities, namely University of Lisbon
and University of Minho, and a Portuguese company TechnoPhage. The agreements
and MOUs aim to further strengthen the collaboration between Macao and Portugal
in higher education and Chinese medicine.
UM Rector Wei Zhao, UM Vice Rector (Research) Rui Martins, and Portuguse-speaking teachers and students met with President Cavaco Silva on the new campus. UM representatives shared the university’s latest developments in various areas, including exchanges and collaborations with other Portuguese universities. UM Rector Wei Zhao said that President Cavaco Silva not only was the first president of a country to visit the new campus, but also was the first state leader to have visited both the old campus and the new campus. President Cavaco Silva mentioned his telling Chinese President Xi Jinping earlier that he wanted to visit UM very much. He said he was very happy he finally made the visit, and he extended welcome to students from Macao to study at Portugal. He expressed his hope that Macao and Portugal carry out more collaborations in the future. President Cavaco Silva noted that the Portuguese language is being widely used in the world and has a lot of potential, so learning the language can boost career prospects. He mentioned the good relations between Portugal and China and expressed his hope to further strengthen exchanges between universities in Macao and Portugal in scientific research and Portuguese teaching.
The University of Lisbon and the University of Minho signed two memoranda of understanding (MOUs) on academic collaborations with UM. Rector Wei Zhao, Rector António Cruz SERRA, and Rector António M. CUNHA signed the MOUs on behalf of their respective universities. The signing ceremony was witnessed by Portuguese President Cavaco Silva, Minister of Defence and Minister of State and Foreign Affairs of Portugal Rui Machete, Minister of Education and Science of Portugal Nuno Crato, Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture of Macao SAR Cheong U, and UM Vice Rector Rui Martins. UM has a long-standing collaboration with the two universities. The signing of the agreements is expected to further strengthen contact and cooperation between faculty members, departments, and research institutions at UM and the two universities. UM and the two universities will carry out collaboration in various forms, including having each other’s staff deliver lectures, hold seminars and discussions, teach courses, and conduct research and supervise students’ studies; having each other’s students attend courses and carry out studies; joint development of teaching programmes; and collaboration of faculty and students in research projects, etc. The main areas of focus will be Portuguese Studies (at the two universities in Portugal), and Chinese and Asiatic Studies (at UM). Additionally, UM’s State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine and the Portuguese company Technophage signed a collaboration agreement, signalling the official start of collaboration between the two parties in Chinese medicine.
After the signing ceremony was over, student Lúcia from UM’s Department of Portuguese read a poem “Aniversário” by the Portuguese poet Álvaro de Campos, which received a warm applause from President Cavaco Silva and other members of the delegation. Accompanied by Rector Wei Zhao, Secretary Cheong U presented souvenirs to President Cavaco Silva, including a pewter plate specially made for President Cavaco Silva’s visit, an album of bank note, stamps and photos in commemoration of the inauguration of the new campus, as well as Thematic Dictionary of Macau—DITEMA, one of the most important research achievements of the Department of Portuguese. In return, President Cavaco Silva presented the book Viver em Pleno Vento to UM representatives.
UM Rector Wei Zhao, UM Vice Rector (Research) Rui Martins, and Portuguse-speaking teachers and students met with President Cavaco Silva on the new campus. UM representatives shared the university’s latest developments in various areas, including exchanges and collaborations with other Portuguese universities. UM Rector Wei Zhao said that President Cavaco Silva not only was the first president of a country to visit the new campus, but also was the first state leader to have visited both the old campus and the new campus. President Cavaco Silva mentioned his telling Chinese President Xi Jinping earlier that he wanted to visit UM very much. He said he was very happy he finally made the visit, and he extended welcome to students from Macao to study at Portugal. He expressed his hope that Macao and Portugal carry out more collaborations in the future. President Cavaco Silva noted that the Portuguese language is being widely used in the world and has a lot of potential, so learning the language can boost career prospects. He mentioned the good relations between Portugal and China and expressed his hope to further strengthen exchanges between universities in Macao and Portugal in scientific research and Portuguese teaching.
The University of Lisbon and the University of Minho signed two memoranda of understanding (MOUs) on academic collaborations with UM. Rector Wei Zhao, Rector António Cruz SERRA, and Rector António M. CUNHA signed the MOUs on behalf of their respective universities. The signing ceremony was witnessed by Portuguese President Cavaco Silva, Minister of Defence and Minister of State and Foreign Affairs of Portugal Rui Machete, Minister of Education and Science of Portugal Nuno Crato, Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture of Macao SAR Cheong U, and UM Vice Rector Rui Martins. UM has a long-standing collaboration with the two universities. The signing of the agreements is expected to further strengthen contact and cooperation between faculty members, departments, and research institutions at UM and the two universities. UM and the two universities will carry out collaboration in various forms, including having each other’s staff deliver lectures, hold seminars and discussions, teach courses, and conduct research and supervise students’ studies; having each other’s students attend courses and carry out studies; joint development of teaching programmes; and collaboration of faculty and students in research projects, etc. The main areas of focus will be Portuguese Studies (at the two universities in Portugal), and Chinese and Asiatic Studies (at UM). Additionally, UM’s State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine and the Portuguese company Technophage signed a collaboration agreement, signalling the official start of collaboration between the two parties in Chinese medicine.
After the signing ceremony was over, student Lúcia from UM’s Department of Portuguese read a poem “Aniversário” by the Portuguese poet Álvaro de Campos, which received a warm applause from President Cavaco Silva and other members of the delegation. Accompanied by Rector Wei Zhao, Secretary Cheong U presented souvenirs to President Cavaco Silva, including a pewter plate specially made for President Cavaco Silva’s visit, an album of bank note, stamps and photos in commemoration of the inauguration of the new campus, as well as Thematic Dictionary of Macau—DITEMA, one of the most important research achievements of the Department of Portuguese. In return, President Cavaco Silva presented the book Viver em Pleno Vento to UM representatives.
Should you have any inquiries about the press release, please feel free to contact Ms. Albee Lei and Ms. Kristy Fok at（853）8397 4323 or prs.media@um.edu.mo or visit UM webpage www.umac.mo.
