The Macao International Airport Company Ltd (CAM) Monday signed a letter of intent to forge market strategic partnerships with the Gold Coast Airport of Australia and Hainan Meilan International Airport of China respectively.

The signing of these cooperation agreements took place after the opening ceremony of the "Regional Asia-Routes Development Forum 2008 Macao". The two airports were by far the 9th and 10th " sister airports" of the CAM.

According to the agreements, the CAM and its "sister airports" would promote the aviation development and enhance the exchange and cooperation between airports, and overall strategic partnerships include the exchanges on techniques, management, marketing, IT, specialized training, among others.

"Given their commitment in cooperation, the three airports can add value to their own business and move forward as a united industry despite regional diversity," said Chan Weng Hong, president of the Civil Aviation Authority of Macao SAR (Special Administrative Region).

Since 2005, the CAM has signed cooperation agreements with eight airports, including four airports in the Chinese Mainland, ANA -- Aeroportos de Portugal, SA, Frankfurt Hahn Airport, Incheon International Airport Corporation of South Korea and Canada Winnipeg Airports Authority Inc.

It will add to a total of ten "sister airports" as the Australia Gold Coast Airport and China Hainan Meilan Airport signed the agreement with the CAM.

The rapid growth of international air transport has led to more competition among airports and airlines worldwide, and to cater for the challenges ahead, the Macao SAR will continue to implement its "open skies policy" for the air transport system, said Chan.

The SAR government has over 50 percent stake in the CAM, which runs the island city's only airport under a decade-long government concession.

(Xinhua News Agency April 14, 2008)