IIM's Activity Centres

 The vocation and aim of the International Institute of Macau (IIM) is to stimulate, deepen and foster Macau´s factors of identity and difference. Identity is here understood to be Macau´s ability to generate its own syntheses of the diverse anthropological and cultural vectors that constitute the social, cultural and historic reality of Macau - setting for the meeting of China and the West.  

Difference, based from the start on the cultivation of that identity, concerns the continuation of values at risk, i.e., those values of Western civilisation established here over four and a half centuries of Portuguese presence. For this body of values and lifestyles makes the MSAR distinct under the constitutional principle of "one country, two systems".

 Two centres have thus been created within the IIM to polarise activities related to that strategy:

Centre for the Diaspora and the Macanese Identity

The Center focuses on the unity and integrity of communities from Macau, taken as a large community outside the territory. The true active extension of Macau in the world is covered, motivated by constant efforts to maintain the link. The centre will promote activities to accompany the evolution and rhythm of communities, deepen and modernise the traditional and cultural factors of their identity, stimulate contacts and close relations between them and undertake to provide interesting and important information on the connection and unity of Macau´s diaspora. The IIM will maintain a special relationship with the Casas de Macau.

Centre for Strategic Studies of the Asia-Pacific Region

This project is geared towards orga-nising activities concerning the study and knowledge of problems affecting this geographic region or related thereto. Annual "MACAU INTERNATIONAL MEETINGS" will be organised under its scope. The first of these encounters should take place by the end of this year, at a time and date still to be announced.