Under the Basic Law, Macau's diplomatic relations and defence are the responsibility of the central government of China. Except diplomatic relations and defence, nonetheless, Macau has retained considerable autonomy in all aspects, including economic and commercial relations, customs control.
As a separate customs territory, Macau plays an active role in international organizations and conferences such as World Trade Organization (WTO) and the Asia/Pacific Group on Money Laundering (APG), etc. in its own right under the name of Macau, China.
As of January 27, 2020, according to Directorate of Identification Services Official webpage, there are 144 countries or regions that implement visa-free policies for residents holding Macau passports.
Macau office
The Macau government has maintained Macau Economic and Trade Representative Offices in Portugal, Belgium and Switzerland, and other countries.
Macao Economic and Cultural Representative Office/Macao Government Tourism Office (Overseas)
country / regionlocationAddress/Official website linkBeijingDongcheng, China, 100006SydneyCampbells Bay7 Centennial Place, Campbells Bay, Auckland 0630, New Zealand ( )BrusselsLondon25 North Row, London W1K 6DJ, United KingdomOxford1st Floor, Chester House, 21-27 George Street, Oxford OX1 2AU, United KingdomGenèveSeoulBangkokhttps://www.macaotourism.gov.mo/th/Thailand Kuala Lumpurhttps://www.macaotourism.gov.mo/ms/Malaysia Mumbai9th Floor, Tower A, Urmi Estate, 95, Ganpatrao Kadam Marg, Lower Parel (W), Mumbai 400013, IndiaNew Delhi707, 7th Floor, Prakash Deep Building, 7 Tolstoy Marg, Connaught Place, New Delhi, 110001, India ( )JakartaMoscowHong KongFlat 3, 7/F, Charm Centre, No. 700 Castle Peak Road, Cheung Sha Wan, Kowloon, Hong KongTaiwanCaliforniaNew YorkLisbon The Macao Economic and Trade Representative Office is a government department of Macao. It is responsible for promoting the work of representing the interests of all parties in Macao. It is a representative department and enjoys administrative autonomy. The office is responsible for assisting the Chief Executive in the work of economic and trade relations and cooperation between Macao and local and related institutions: Strive to make the relationship between Macau and the local area closer; Committed to showing Macau to the locals in the economic and trade field; Ensure to safeguard Macao's local interests and promote certain economic relations between Macao and the local area; Follow up the local decision-making process involving Macau's interests in all aspects; Collect, process and provide to the Chief Executive all information about community institutions that is meaningful to Macau; Follow up the management of trade agreements and conventions between the local and Macau; Follow up the development of cooperation between Macao and the local area in accordance with the provisions of the existing agreements, and participate in the formulation and preparation of projects related to these agreements; In accordance with the general guidelines set by the Chief Executive for him, to ensure that the local area and its institutions safeguard other interests of Macao, including the interests of tourism.
In countries or territories where no MOETO is present, diplomatic missions of China have the duty to represent Macau's interests. Visa applications at these missions are, nevertheless, sent to and processed by the Immigration Department of Macau.
International agreements According to the Basic Law, Macao may individually sign bilateral agreements with relevant countries and regions in appropriate fields such as economy, trade, finance, shipping, communications, tourism, culture, science and technology, and sports, in the name of "Macao, China".
Negotiation By the end of 2018, Macau has negotiated civil aviation agreements with 46 countries and regions including the Czech Republic and the United Kingdom. Macau negotiates judicial assistance agreements with 11 countries and regions including Portugal and East Timor. Macau negotiates investment protection agreements with three countries and regions including Portugal and the Netherlands. Macau negotiates tax information exchange or double taxation agreements with 42 countries including the United Kingdom and Japan.
Bilateral Investment Treaty
Consumer Protection Agreement
Mutual Legal Assistance Agreement
Tax Information Exchange Agreement
Agreement on avoiding double taxation and preventing tax evasion
Civil Aviation Agreement
According to the Chief Executive's policy address, in order to protect the interests of investors in Macau. In the future, the SAR government will actively strive to sign taxation agreements with countries along the One Belt One Road and Portuguese-speaking countries.
Trade Agreement ｜European Economic Community Agreement for trade and cooperation between the European Economic Community and Macao (June 1992) (CEPA) (June 2003) (October 2017)
International organizations
Note
Macau participates in 19 intergovernmental international organizations with countries as participating units. Macau participates in 30 intergovernmental international organizations that do not use countries as their participating units.
World Trade Organization Egmont Group of Financial Intelligence Units International Monetary Fund APEC Tourism Working Group United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific Asian Development Bank Asian Trade Promotion Forum EU-Macao Joint Committee International Hydrographic Organization International Maritime Organization (associate) International Association of Exhibitions and Events International Congress and Convention Association International Organization for Standardization (correspondent) Pacific Alliance (observer) The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry UNESCO (associate) Universal Postal Union WCO WAIPA WMO World Bank World Tourism Organization United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (associate) International Criminal Police Organization Interpol (organization) (subbureau) World Intellectual Property Organization Boao Forum for Asia International Organization for Standardization
Macao participates in the online meeting of the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs in 2021
Overseas visits made by senior officials
The Chief Executive of Macao & other senior officials often make a duty visit to foreign countries. These visits usually aim to advance Macao's economic and trade relations with the foreign countries. During these visits, the Chief Executive will meet with political and business leaders. Usually, the head of state or head of government of the foreign countries will receive the Chief Executive. For example, during his tenure former Chief Executive Edmund Ho met with Prime Minister of Portugal José Sócrates, President of France Jacques Chirac, German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, Prince Philip of Belgium, President of the European Commission José Manuel Durão Barroso, President of Brazil Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong, Prime Minister of Thailand Surayud Chulanont, Prime Minister of Malaysia Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Vice President of Myanmar Myint Swe, etc.
Foreign officials Visiting Macau
Protocol Division Government Secretariat
Plan and prepare official activities for the Chief Executive's visits to Macau and abroad; Coordinating the reception activities of delegations at ministerial level or above at home and abroad and persons designated by the Chief Executive to visit Macau; Responsible for the management of non-foreign policy affairs of foreign consulates in Macao and officially recognized institutions, and related contacts; Assist in handling diplomatic representative certificates and consular officer certificates; Provide assistance in international cooperation and exchange activities between various departments of the government and international organizations; Coordinate the reception, meeting, banquet and signing ceremony of the Chief Executive in Macau; Coordinate large-scale activities of the government designated by the Chief Executive.
Foreign Officials The heads of state and government of the Czech Republic, Mongolia, Estonia, Vietnam, Cambodia and dozens of ministers from more than a dozen countries, such as the Russian Minister of Education, respectively visited Macau. According to statistics, in 2011, the Macau government received a total of 40 times delegations from mainland China, more than 100 times consular and consular delegations, and 63 times foreign government delegations.
Foreign Representation in Macau
History From 1557 to 1999, the United States, Brazil, and other countries opened consulates in Macau, which were later closed. South Korea had a consulate general in Macau from July 28, 1984, to July 1, 2001, which was later closed and the South Korean consulate in Hong Kong was also responsible for Macao-related affairs.
The following countries and region’s Consulates and Representative Office in Macau
Europe
Estonian Honorary Consul in Macau , Estonian Embassy in China British Consul General to Hong Kong and Macao Caroline Wilson's speech at the Queen's Birthday Party in Macao 2015 , Foreign and Commonwealth Office, 23 April 2015
Asia
(Liaison Office) (Taipei Office)
Africa
Consulate of Mozambique opens , Macau Daily Times, October 27, 2014
Macau entrepreneur promotes Guinea-Bissau trade , Macau News, May 28, 2015
Americas
Multilateral organisations in Macau United Nations University Typhoon Committee
Chamber of Commerce (Chamber of Commerce) (German Macau Business Association) (French Macau Chamber of Commerce) (Chamber of Commerce) (Chamber of Commerce) (Chamber of Commerce) (Macao Brazil São Paulo Business Association) (Macau Canada Business Association) (Japan Chamber of Commerce) (Korea Chamber of Commerce) (Australian Chamber of Commerce Macau) (American Chamber of Commerce in Macau)
Bilateral relations
Macau relations with Lusophone countries
Given the language, culture and intimate relationships, Macau has been communicating with the Portuguese-speaking countries through various channels for a long time. This can be reflected in the International Commercial Conference for Portuguese-speaking countries, which is held in Macau annually. Macau Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) has a lot of co-operation protocols with the relevant organizations and commercial associations in Brazil and Mozambique. The organizations include the Portuguese Commercial Association in Macau, Portuguese Business Centre in Asia, Forum dos Empresarios de Lingua Portuguesa, Câmara de Comércio e Industria Luso-Chinesa, Portuguese Business Association and Portuguese Trade Commission.
In order to strengthen the economic co-operation and development between Chinese- and Portuguese-speaking countries and improve the international status of Macau SAR, the first "Economic Co-operation Forum between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries" was held by the Central Government of the People's Republic of China with the Macau SAR Government being the event coordinator. It is mainly for the economic co-operation and development of both sides and is non-political. The "Economic Co-operation Forum between Chinese and Portuguese-speaking Countries" will be held every three years and the first was in Macau in October 2003.
Forum for Economic & Trade Cooperation between China and Lusophone Countries
Founded in 1999, the Macau SAR government was determined, with the great supports from the Central Government, to host the "Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries" in October 2003. Serving as a platform between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, Macau takes it as an important mission to enhance the friendship and cooperation between the two parties.