Speeches and Articles by Former Consul General James B. Cunningham

Remarks by U.S. Consul General James B. Cunningham
Independence Day Reception in Macau
Mandarin Oriental Hotel
July 6, 2006

(As prepared for delivery)

Chief Executive Ho, distinguished guests and friends, I am pleased to join you in Macau in celebration of the 230th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the bold document that created the United States. Although we may be far from home, we Americans enjoy coming together to celebrate the ideals of our forefathers, including the right to "Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness." All across America, my countrymen celebrate Independence Day with picnics, parades, and fireworks.

Our Independence Day is an occasion to look back at our history and development. I'm especially pleased to be in Macau as one could say this was one of the starting points of U.S. engagement in Asia. On July 3, 1844 – the day before our Independence Day -- my country signed its first treaty with China. The Treaty of Wanghsia was negotiated and signed right here in Macau by U.S. Minister Caleb Cushing and Viceroy of Canton Ki Ying. A replica of the stone table they used for the signing ceremony is still in one of the terraced gardens of Guan Yin Temple, not far from where we are gathered tonight. Macau then became an important destination for the original American business community in China, which brought their families to Macau to live. Among them were the grandparents of our great president, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, whose mother spent part of her childhood here.

The American business community in Macau is again growing with increased U.S. investment and presence. It is therefore fitting to bring together our Macanese friends and my countrymen, including the American Chamber of Commerce's Macau committee. Such receptions are only a small part of our interaction. The U.S. Consulate General has an active presence here in the form of the American Corner we established with the University of Macau. We use the American Corner for U.S.-related exhibits, talks by Consulate staff, and video conferences. The Corner also provides teaching and reference materials for anyone interested in the United States. And we will be looking at ways to expand our contacts in the coming year.

This past year, Macau welcomed the first U.S. scholar under the Fulbright program, one of the world's largest academic exchanges. Fulbright grants allow Americans to study and lecture abroad; and foreign nationals to study in the U.S. Next fall, an American "junior scholar" will begin a ten-month research grant here. We are encouraged by this progress and hope to give many more American scholars the opportunity to discover your academic institutions.

Macau has also been an important ally on law enforcement and security issues. As I said in a speech here last April, I congratulate you on the passage of legislation against money laundering and terrorist financing. We welcome the fact that Macau is becoming a stronger partner in this international effort, and we look forward to continuing our collaboration.

Given our long history of friendship and relations, it is my pleasure to propose a toast: To the people of the People's Republic of China and the Macau Special Administrative Region. May our friendship continue to thrive.

# # #