Delegates of Thailand and the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China on Monday signed in Bangkok two Memorandums of Understanding aimed at promoting trade exchange and business tourism.

The two MOUs were signed respectively by Macao Chamber of Commerce with Thai Chamber of Commerce, both private sector associations, and Macau Government Tourist Office with Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau, at the opening of the Thai-Macao Economic Cooperation Seminar on Monday.

The two commercial chambers have agreed to maintain close contacts, exchange information and provide services to enhance mutual cooperation on trade and investment activities of both Thai and Macao entrepreneurs.

Thailand and Macao aimed to develop and strengthen cooperation on business tourism by exchange visits, and measures to attract business tourists, investment and coordination on training and human resources development.

Ho Hauwah, chief executive of the Macao SAR, who headed a visiting delegation to Thailand, told Xinhua that in his meeting with Thai government officials, including Thai Foreign Minister Nitya Pipulsonggram, Thailand has shown great interest in expanding Thailand's tourism market in Macao, which has determined to develop its tourism, a leading sector of its economy, in a multi-dimensional approach and with a new focus on business tourism.

Thailand also recognizes the advantageous role of Macao, as a service platform for economic and trade cooperation with the Pan- Pearl River Delta in southern China, comprising nine provinces plus the two SARs of Hong Kong and Macao, and also for the trade relation between Chinese mainland and Portuguese-speaking countries, said Ho.

He said Thailand intended to expand its market and investment in these regions, with which Macao enjoys a historical and cultural bond, and he believed it would bring a much broader space for Thai-Macau economic relations in future.

Ho, with a delegation of officials and business executives, arrived in Bangkok on Sunday in the first leg of his visit to Southeastern Asia, which will also take him to Malaysia and Singapore.