On the sidelines of the official launch ceremony of a direct link between the debt markets of Macau and the neighboring semi-autonomous Chinese region of Hong Kong, Henrietta Lau Hang Kun, a board member of the Monetary Authority of Macau (AMCM), said the institution has been trying to promote the territory as "a financial services platform for Portuguese-speaking countries."

He also said the National Bank of Angola and the Central Bank of East Timor are interested in issuing public debt in the semi-autonomous Chinese region. "For now, we are still negotiating with Portuguese-speaking countries" so that the debt issuance "passes here, through Macau, to the mainland [China] market," added Henrietta Lau.

The leader recalled that, in September, the city hosted the second Conference of Central Bank Governors and Financial Officers between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries. "We also spoke with the National Bank of Angola and the Central Bank of East Timor.

(Source: Notícias ao Minuto, on January 21)