Canada-Macao relations
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Bilateral relations
In Macao, Canada is represented by the Consulate General of Canada in Hong Kong. For mainland China, Canada is represented by the Embassy of Canada to China in Beijing and its consulates general.
Macao is represented in Canada by the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Canada, in Ottawa.
Bilateral relations with Macao date back 2 centuries, with trade and immigration dominating the relationship. Migratory ties, bilateral cooperation and economic development have further cultivated this long-standing relationship.
Macao became a Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in 1999. Under the “one country, two systems” framework, Macao is promised autonomy over its main political, economic and legal structures. While it is responsible for the exercise of its executive, legislative, and judicial powers, the territory’s defence and foreign affairs are the responsibility of the central government.
Since 1980, the serving head of the Canadian consulate general in Hong Kong also serves as consul general in Macao. Canada and Macao are both members of the World Trade Organization. Moreover, cultural and social associations in both Canada and Macao, such as Casa de Macau in Vancouver and Toronto, have strengthened ties and understanding.
Canadians are increasingly visible and play an active role in Macanese society, notably through the establishment in 2002 of Macao’s first international school, the International School of Macao (TIS Macao), which is accredited by Alberta’s Ministry of Education.
Trade relations
Canada’s trade in Macao continues to develop as Macao moves from a niche gaming market to a regional tourism destination. A Canadian chamber of commerce was set up in 2004 to promote and defend the trade interests of Macao’s Canadian business community. As Macao develops into a tourism, convention and exhibition destination, large-scale hotel chains, shopping malls, convention halls, exhibition facilities and entertainment venues are being built with a view to capitalizing on the influx of tourists from mainland China and East Asia. Of notice, in July, 2021, Macao approved CFIA’s certificate for the export of Canadian pork, pork products and offal to Macao, giving market access to Canadian pork producers.
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Partnerships and organizations
To develop effective responses to today’s most pressing global challenges, Canada and Macao work closely in multilateral fora, such as:
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