On 9 – 11 May 2018, H.E. Mr. Chui Sai On, Chief Executive of Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) of the People’s Republic of China, paid an official visit to Thailand as guest of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand. He was accompanied by Ms. Chan Hoi Fan, Secretary for Administration and Justice, Mr. Tam Chon Weng, Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, members of Executive Council, and other senior officials of the Government of Macao SAR.

On 9 May 2018, H.E. Mr. Don Pramudwinai, Minister of Foreign Affairs hosted a meeting and luncheon in honour of the Chief Executive of Macao SAR and his delegation. Joining the Minister of Foreign Affairs were Mr. Pichet Durongkaveroj, Minister of Digital Economy and Society, Mrs. Nuntawan Sakuntanaga, Permanent Secretary of Commerce, Mr. Noraphat Plodtong, Governor of Phuket Province, and high-ranking officials from relevant agencies, including the Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Public Health, Ministry of Tourism and Sports, Eastern Economic Corridor Office, Thailand Board of Investment, and Tourism Authority of Thailand. Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Chief Executive of Macao also witnessed the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on the Establishment of Friendship between Phuket Province of the Kingdom of Thailand and the Macao SAR of the People’s Republic of China at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

On 10 May 2018, Minister of Foreign Affairs led the Chief Executive of Macao and his delegation to pay a courtesy call on H.E. General Prayut Chan-o-Cha, Prime Minister of Thailand at the Government House. In the afternoon, H.E. Mr. Virasakdi Futrakul, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs led Mr. Chui and his delegation to meet with H.E. Dr. Somkid Jatusripitak, Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand at the Government House.

The two sides exchanged views on how to further strengthen cooperation in many areas, particularly on trade, investment, tourism, culture, education, public health, traditional medicine, creative industries, sports and advanced technology. The Thai side presented investment opportunities and invited Macao business people to explore investing in Thailand, especially in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC). The Thai side also asked the Macao side to consider importing more goods from Thailand, particularly fruits, jewelry and home decorative products. In addition, the two sides discussed ways and means to promote strategic cooperation under the Guangdong – Hong Kong – Macao Greater Bay Area, Pan – Pearl River Delta, and the Belt and Road Initiative. The Macao side reiterated their readiness to serve as a platform for Thailand to access the southern China and connect Thailand with the Portuguese-speaking countries.

During the visit, the Government of Macao SAR organized the 2018 Traditional Medicine International Development Forum (Thailand) and the Economic and Financial Promotion Forum. During the Forum, there were five Memorandums of Understanding signed between the Department of International Trade and Promotion and Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) and between the private sectors of both sides to promote closer cooperation in trade and tourism. 

Mr. Chui is the second and incumbent Chief Executive of Macao SAR. This is the first official visit to Thailand for Mr. Chui as the Chief Executive of Macao SAR. The last visit to Thailand by the Chief Executive of Macao SAR was made by H.E. Mr. Edmund Ho, the first Chief Executive of Macao SAR in April 2007.