US Expects to Strengthen Cooperation With Macao: Consul GeneralThe United States looks forward to increasing cooperation with China's Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) in various areas, a US official said Thursday.Michael Klosson, the U.S. Consul General for Hong Kong and Macao, said at the Autumn reception that he will "continue to encourage US officials to visit Macao, to become familiar with its unique historical and cultural diversity, and to see the success of the new SAR." He said that the United States and Macao had a record of close cooperation in many areas, citing the increasing frequency of official dialogue and exchanges between parliamentarians, the growing cooperation on law enforcement matters and the joint efforts to stop money laundering and intellectual property rights violations. The U.S. consul general congratulated Macao on Sunday's legislative election, the first since the establishment of the SAR government in 1999. "The smooth and successful conduct of the election reflected the careful preparations and extensive efforts undertaken by the Macao government, and the large voter turnout reflected a desire by the people of Macao to participate actively in the political process and to express their democratic aspirations," he said. "These elections mark an important step towards more democratic government and also highlight Macao's distinct way of life and its special status," the official added. The strong friendship and cooperation between the United States and Macao was demonstrated most recently in the many expressions of sympathy and condolence from the people of Macao after the terrorist attacks of September 11, Klosson noted. Present at the reception hosted by the U.S. consul general were Chief Executive Edmund Ho Hau Wah of the Macao SAR and Yuan Tao, special commissioner of office of the special commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Macao SAR. |
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