Portuguese FM Confident of Macao

Newly-appointed Portuguese foreign minister Martins da Cruz expressed his great confidence about the future of Macao when he started a two-day visit to the special administrative region of China Friday night.

Cruz said he was very concerned about Macao since he was in contact with the Macao affairs for many years as a diplomat and attended the hand-over ceremony at the end of 1999.

He told a leading newspaper in Macao that he was "very confident" of Macao's future.

Chief Executive Edmund Ho Hau Wah of the Macao SAR has met withCruz. The Portuguese foreign minister plans to join gathering withlocal Portuguese social groups Saturday.

Cruz will also be invited to watch the Macao PHILIPS Cup China vs. Portugal, a World Cup finals warm-up Saturday night.

(Xinhua News Agency May 26, 2002)