Roy Eric Xavier (third from left), the president of the International Macanese Alliance (IMA) and the board of directors sign the memorandum at the inaugural meeting of IMA on Oct 18 in Toronto, Canada. [Photo by Li Na/China Daily USA]

Ten Macanese associations in Canada, the United States, Macao and Portugal have launched the International Macanese Alliance (IMA) in Toronto.

"The IMA aims to create projects in business, culture, government, and research that will have tangible and quantifiable benefits for all geographic regions," said Dr Roy Eric Xavier, director of Far East Currents, a Portuguese and Macanese studies project based at the University of California, Berkeley.

"These projects, unlike those attempted in the past, will involve Macanese professionals from abroad with extensive international experiences, and reinforce traditional ties between Macao and Macanese expatriates that have existed for many decades," said Xavier, who was appointed president of IMA at its first meeting.

He said one of the projects is the Macanese Historical Archive, a searchable online database in English, Portuguese and Chinese of photos, documents, video interviews and print material to preserve Macanese cultural history in and outside of Macau. Those assembling the archive have submitted a request to the Macau Foundation for financial support.

Among those attending the organization's launch were Fang Li, the Chinese consul general in Toronto, Luis Barros, the consul general of Portugal in Toronto, José Pereira Coutino, a member of Macau's legislature, and Rita Botelho dos Santos, secretary-general of the China-Portuguese forum for economic and cultural cooperation.

"We hope the founding of the alliance will make great contributions in promoting the development of Macao and the friendship between the people of Macao and other countries," said Fang Li.

"We reaffirm our commitment to work with you to develop stronger relations between Macau and North America, and to assist you in the creation of projects that can benefit people in each region," said Coutino and Santos.

renali@chinadailyusa.com