ADDRESS BY GABRIELA CABELO, PRESIDENT OF MACAO CULTURAL INSTITUTE

Ladies and Gentlemen :

First of all I would like to express, on behalf of the Macao Cultural Institute and myself, sincere gratitude to you for giving us the opportunity to hold in Macao the Second General Conference of EASTICA, an internationally recognized organization of ICA.

Today, I feel very happy to extend our warm welcome to all participants of this conference, which is organized by the State Archives Bureau of China and Macao Historical Archives.

We all know the important role that Archives play in the development of our societies. Archives are indispensable for the single reason that they are the witness of history. It is so of great importance the preservation of archival materials, we well as to make them available to the investigators.

The aims of EASTICA are essentially: to strengthen relations and professional training among archives and archivists of this region; to help archives and archivists to establish measurers for the management, preservation, protection and defence of archival heritage of this region.

Therefore, organizations like EASTICA and events like the present one are significant since they help archives and archivists to promote archival cooperation and increase their knowledge in the field of archival science.

I hope that that conference should advance mutual understanding and help the progress of collaboration, exchange of ideas and experiences among the participants.

Lastly, I wish every success of this conference and everyone of you a happy stay in Macao.

Thank you.