Edmund Ho Hau Wah, chief executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region (MSAR)of China, said on Thursday that he would expect those Portuguese civil servants to remain in Macao as they were contributors to Macao's development.

Ho made the remarks after he held talks with Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates during his four-day visit to Portugal.

This was his first trip to Lisbon since Dec. 20, 1999 when the Chinese central government resumed the exercise of sovereignty over Macao.

Both MSAR and Lisbon have set strengthening trade relationship as their goals, said Ho, who signed a trade agreement with Portugal during his visit.

The two sides agreed in the document to boost business efforts such as sharing information, holding seminars and conferences.

Ho also had a meal with Portuguese President Anibal Cavaco Silva, expressing his hope that Macao could serve as a bridge between Portugal and the rest of China while Portugal could play the same role between China and other European Union members.

Ho told the media that Macao is scheduled to host "an important event" for strengthening EU-China cooperation during the second half of 2007.

Ho arrived in this Portuguese capital on Thursday after his trip to EU headquarters Brussels.

Source: Xinhua