To strengthen cooperation in Portuguese language teaching and research, Professor Lei Heong Iok, President of Macao Polytechnic Institute (MPI), recently visited Peking University (PU) and Beijing Language and Culture University (BLCU). Both universities expressed their appreciation of MPI’s contribution to Portuguese language education. MPI will reinforce its cooperation with various universities on the mainland to contribute to Macao’s strategic development as a trade and economic cooperation service platform between China and the Portuguese-speaking countries.

At PU the MPI delegation was warmly received by the Executive Vice President Professor Wu Zhipan. Professor Wu expressed his appreciation of MPI’s support to PU’s Portuguese language programme in areas such as programme development, teaching, and teaching materials. Both parties reviewed their cooperative projects in student and faculty exchange, and anticipated launching new cooperative projects relevant to Nursing and the Culture and Creative Industries. A cooperative agreement was signed and PU will recommend outstanding students in Portuguese language to study at MPI’s School of Languages and Translation.

At BLCU the MPI delegation had a meeting with Secretary Li Yuming, President Cui Xiliang and the department heads of foreign languages and international Chinese language education. During the meeting the two parties reviewed their cooperation over the past 10 or more years in various areas such as student and faculty exchange, teaching and research, and organising academic events. This was followed by discussions on strengthening the triangular cooperation between MPI, BLCU and the Portuguese higher education sector. They also acknowledged the achievements of the Language and Culture Research Centre of Macao over the past six years. During the visit MPI presented both PU and BLCU the textbook series Global Portuguese.

During their stay in Beijing the MPI delegation paid a courtesy visit to the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council where they were received by Deputy Director, Zhou Bo, and Head of the Department of Exchange, Xiang Bin. Professor Lei Heong Iok introduced MPI’s developments in teaching, research and community services, and reported the cooperation and exchange between MPI and the Portuguese speaking countries in Portuguese language education. Mr Zhou recognised MPI’s positioning as a small but unique institution and its efforts in supplying the society with a considerable number of well-qualified professionals. He also praised MPI’s contribution to the realisation of the country’s “One Belt and One Road” and Macao’s “One Centre, One Platform” strategic developments. He noted that talented individuals are central to Macao’s rapid development, and hoped that MPI could align its teaching and learning with the region’s development, producing more high quality professionals for society and strengthening cooperation with mainland universities.

MPI noted that they are determined to cultivate yet more Portuguese talents for Macao and neighbouring regions in line with the expanding economic and cultural linkages between China and the Portuguese speaking countries. With over 10 years of experience in Portuguese language education (especially in Chinese-Portuguese Translation and Interpretation) and its close ties with both mainland and Portuguese universities, MPI will continue to enhance its educational provision, organise joint postgraduate programmes, conduct Portuguese language teacher training, compile textbooks and teaching materials, promote student and faculty exchange, initiate inter-institutional research projects and other such activities in order to promote academic and cultural exchanges between China, Portugal and Macao, contributing to building Macao into a trade and economic cooperation service platform between China and the Portuguese-speaking countries, and a Portuguese language teaching platform in the Asia-Pacific Region.

Deputy Director Zhou Bo (4th left) and the MPI delegation
PU Executive Vice President Wu Zhipan (4th left) reviewed the rewarding cooperation between PU and MPI	PU expressed appreciation of MPI’s support to their Portuguese language education
Secretary Li Yuming from BLCU (4th right) and the MPI delegation	BLCU President Cui Xiliang (4th left), BLCU’s Department of Foreign Languages and the MPI delegation explored mutual cooperation in Portuguese language teaching and research.

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