Yuan Tao, Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China in Macao said that he will fulfill his mission by safeguarding the national sovereignty and abiding by the Basic Law of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR).

The Office(left photo) was opened Monday morning, a symbol of China's resumption of the exercise of sovereignty over Macao.

The inauguration of the Commissioner's Office in Macao reflects the Chinese government's policy of "one country, two systems" in Macao and the Chinese government allows the Macao SAR to enjoy high degree of autonomy in every aspect except defense and foreign affairs.

"I will not fail the heavy responsibilities and mission," Yuan Tao, a veteran diplomat, told Xinhua today.

His office is responsible for assisting the Macao SAR government to handle foreign affairs related to Macao, coordinating the establishment of consular and other official or semiofficial representations of foreign countries in Macao, handling consular issues, coordinating the issues that the Macao SAR has with international organizations, conventions, treaties and laws, as well as other foreign issues involving Macao.

Yuan describes the relationship between the Commissioner's Office and the Macao SAR government as "mutual respect, mutual trust, mutual support and close cooperation."

"The post-return Macao will play a bigger role in China's communication with the outside world," he said.

According to arrangements that China and Portugal made before the handover, Macao will continue to be a member of 51 international organizations and a signatory of 140-plus international treaties and 34 civil aviation agreements with other places in the world.