To further cooperation between Macao and Portuguese-speaking countries in the fields of education and culture, and to expand Macao’s role as a platform for Sino-Portuguese Cooperation, João Neves, Executive Director of the International Portuguese Language Institute (IILP), accompanied by Patrícia Ribeiro, Director of the Portuguese Institute of the Orient (IPOR), visited Macao Polytechnic University (MPU). They were warmly received by Vivian Lei, the Vice-Rector of MPU. The two parties engaged in in-depth discussions in a pleasant atmosphere on promoting Portuguese language teaching and dissemination, academic exchanges across multiple disciplines, scientific research cooperation, and sharing language resources.

During the meeting, Vivian Lei introduced the long history of cooperation between MPU and higher education and research institutions in Portuguese-speaking countries. This cooperation includes joint education programmes, co-founding research laboratories, and teacher and student exchanges, all of which have yielded fruitful results. She expressed the hope to collaborate with IILP on various joint projects discussed in the meeting to promote knowledge sharing and deepen educational and cultural exchanges between Macao and Portuguese-speaking countries.

João Neves praised the achievements of MPU’s Sino-Portuguese cooperation and introduced the efforts and accomplishments of IILP in promoting the development of the Portuguese language, scientific research cooperation, and cultural exchanges. He emphasised that Macao is an important platform connecting China and Portuguese-speaking countries, and MPU has long valued the cultivation of bilingual Sino-Portuguese talents. He looks forward to strengthening cooperation with MPU in the training of professionals and the application of innovative technologies.

IILP is an organisation under the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP), dedicated to promoting and disseminating the Portuguese language internationally. Currently, the institute is advancing relevant research projects in the fields of climate, migration, health, oceans, and justice. Zhang Yunfeng, Acting Dean of the Faculty of Languages and Translation; Rui Gama, Acting Director of the Portuguese Language Teaching and Research Centre; Joaquim Carvalho, Director of the PhD Programme in Portuguese; and Yu Yibing, Director of the Bachelor’s Degree Programme in Chinese-Portuguese/Portuguese-Chinese Translation, attended the meeting.