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U.S. to Remain Engaged with Macao SAR: Consul GeneralThe United States will remain engaged with China's Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR),its government and people, the consul general of the United States in Hong Kong said in Macao on Friday. "We seek to build on our excellent relations with the new government of Macao, to expand bilateral cooperation, and to promote opportunities for U.S. trade and investment," Consul General Michael Klosson said at a forum entitled "the U.S. and Macao: Looking Toward the Future." He noted that although the United States Consulate General is located in Hong Kong, he and his colleagues take their jobs as U.S. representatives to the Macao SAR very seriously -- whether in the consular, diplomatic, commercial or law enforcement spheres. "...we want to maintain -- and even increase -- our cooperation and our involvement in the Macao SAR," the consul general said. "We have been very appreciative of the excellent cooperation, and in many cases real friendship, that have developed. We hope that senior Macao government officials will visit the United States," he said. "We also encourage senior American officials to visit Macao and see for themselves the 'One Country, Two Systems' arrangement in practice." Klosson said the United States also supports strengthened professional and cultural exchanges between the people of Macao and the United States. Over the past couple of years, the U.S. Consulate has sponsored American experts to visit Macao and make speeches, and Macao officials, journalists, and even a legislator have visited the United States. In addition to official exchanges, more than 300 Macao students go to study in the U.S. each year. "We hope that number will grow, " he said. Talking about the cooperation in law enforcement, Klosson said the two sides have begun working together to combat illegal money laundering. "We want to increase information-sharing and training opportunities until eventually our law enforcement officials can conduct joint operations to fight transnational crime, including trafficking in women and children, narcotics smuggling, piracy of intellectual property, and financial crimes," he said. In terms of trading, the United States, as Macao's largest trading partner, purchased almost half of Macao's exports (US$ 1 billion) in 1998, but exported only US$ 40 million to Macao. "We are eager to expand sales here," he said. Macao's infrastructure development has created opportunities for U.S. firms. Changes such as the liberalization of Macao's telecommunications market may also attract more U.S. investment. If the plans to improve rail and highway links between Macao and China's inland areas are realized, direct U.S. trade with Macao and through Macao to other points in the Pearl River Delta and beyond will increase. Klosson added that the free market policies in the SAR can serve as a model for others in the region. With regard to Macao residents' travel to the United States, Klosson said the U.S. government announced last September that it had recognized the Macao SAR passports. "I can assure you once again that the Consulate will continue to issue Macao passport holders' multiple-entry, long-validity visitor's visas, which will ensure that Macao travelers are not inconvenienced with frequent applications," he said.
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