Macao Conference Ambassador

July 10, 2017

Macao is no longer administered by Portugal, but there is still a lot of Portuguese flavour in this Chinese territory. Perhaps these long lasting ties influenced my decision to accept the invitation to be Ambassador of Congresses in Macao.

I received the invitation from the Secretary for Economic Affairs and Finance of the Government of the Macao Special Administrative Region, Dr. Leong Vai Tac, that honoured me greatly. The mission of supporting the promotion of Macao as a privileged destination for holding business events and congresses, and at the same time promoting dental medicine, did not leave me indifferent.

I know this region well, I can see its potential. As the old Macao saying “he who drinks the water from the Lilau fountain, will not leave Macao”, I know well this constant desire to return, to see for myself the development and the growing dimension of Macao. It is a bit of this breathing in Macao that made me accept this invitation.

Macao is infinite in diversity. From the magnificent casinos, to the beaches, to the miscellany of cultures and gastronomy, to monuments, to the frenzy of people who come and go every day from Macao, our arms are not long enough to grasp this whole cultural, economic and Human dimension. Is there another place like this?

Macao


Macau já não é de Portugal, mas ainda há muito sabor português neste território chinês. Talvez por estes laços que teimam perpetuar aceitei o convite para ser Embaixador de Congressos em Macau.

Recebi o convite do Excelentíssimo Secretário para a Economia e Finanças do Governo da Região Administrativa Especial de Macau, Dr. Leong Vai Tac, que muito me honrou. A missão de apoiar a promoção de Macau como destino privilegiado para a realização de eventos empresariais e congressos, e em simultâneo promover a medicina dentária, não me deixou indiferente.

Conheço bem esta região, conheço o seu potencial. Como diz o velho ditado macaense “quem bebe a água da fonte do Lilau, não mais deixará Macau”, sei bem desta vontade constante de querer voltar, de ver o desenvolvimento e a dimensão crescente de Macau. É um pouco deste respirar Macau que me fez aceitar este convite.

Macau tem uma infinita diversidade de ofertas. Desde os magníficos casinos, às praias, a miscelânea de culturas e gastronomia, monumentos, o frenesim de pessoas que todos os dias entram e saem de Macau, enfim os nossos braços são curtos para apanhar todo este movimento, toda esta dimensão cultural, económica e humana. Haverá outro lugar como este?


Back to China!

November 30, 2014

Let me share with you some moments of my presence in Haikou, Hainan Province, China. The Hainan Province is one of the main special economic zones of the Republic of China.

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There the BIT’s 1st Annual International Congress of Dental & Oral Medicine (CODM2014), took place from 13th to 16th November, Organized by BIT Life Sciences.

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The theme of the CODM-2014 was “Bring Beautiful Smile to the Earth”, and aimed at to attracting strategies for managing prevention and control of oral diseases. The congress had several topics such as Oral Biology, Oral Diseases and Therapy, Oral Cancer, and so on.

I was one of the Keynote Speakers of this event, under the theme
Shaping the future of oral health.The moderator was Dr.Shuguo Zhenk, from the Peking University School of Stomatology.

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A statement shared with an audience of international attendees:

“Oral healthcare provision is an important industry which generates a considerable turnover. According to WHO, it is the fourth most expensive disease to treat worldwide. For example, total expenditure for dental care in the United States was estimated at more than 100 billion dollars in 2009, and the market for dental supplies in China alone is due to reach 3.1 billion dollars in 2012, with an 11% annual growth rate.”(FDI Vision 2020).

In parallel, six other events were occurring:
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Four Nobel Prizes in Chemistry participated:
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Group photo:

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I’m sure I’ll come back to continue following closely the “explosion” of dental medicine in China!


Taiwan, Taipei and New Taipei Annual Scientific meeting

March 26, 2013

By kind invitation of Huang Ming-Yu (president of the Taipei Dental Association), KO Vincent W.C. (chairman of the International Affairs Committee Taipei Dental Association), and James Chih-Chien Lee (president of Asia Pacific Dental Federation – APDF/APRO), I had the pleasure to attend, for the first time, the 2013 Mutual Cooperation of Duel Taipei Annual Scientific meeting & General Assembly.

It took place at the Tapei International Convention Center on March, from 23rd to 24th of 2013.

I had also three official visits: Taipei City Government, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Health Taiwan.

With Huang Ming-Yu, president of the Taipei Dental Association.

With Huang Ming-Yu, president of the Taipei Dental Association.

With Jame Chih-Chien Lee, president of Asia Pacific Dental Federation (APDF/APRO).

With Jame Chih-Chien Lee, president of Asia Pacific Dental Federation (APDF/APRO).

Welcome party group photo.

Welcome party group photo.

With local leaders of the profession.

With local leaders of the profession.

Addressing the delegates.

Addressing the delegates.

From right to left, Chen Sheng-Mao, colleage and photographer who gently provided me with this nice pictures, Haja Badrudeen Sirajudeen, Malaysian Dental Association president, James Chih-Chien Lee, president of Asia Pacific Dental Federation (APDF/APRO), and myself.

From right to left, Chen Sheng-Mao, colleage and photographer who gently provided me with this nice pictures, Haja Badrudeen Sirajudeen, Malaysian Dental Association president, James Chih-Chien Lee, president of Asia Pacific Dental Federation (APDF/APRO), and myself.

From left to right, Cristina António, from Macau Dental Association, James Chih-Chien Lee and myself.

From left to right, Cristina António, from Macau Dental Association, James Chih-Chien Lee and myself.

Attendees from several countries and representing the national dental associations.

Attendees from several countries and representing the national dental associations.

Dental exhibition.

Dental exhibition.

New Taipei City Dental Association General Assembly.

New Taipei City Dental Association General Assembly.

Next to Anne L. V. Camus, president of Manila Dental Chapter of Philippines Dental Association.

Next to Anne L. V. Camus, president of Manila Dental Chapter of Philippines Dental Association.

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“At FDI, we would not be able to accomplish our mission without your input and support. You are the organizations that enrich dialogue at international level and who share experience across the world within the context of FDI. In doing so, you add significantly to the global stock of accumulated knowledge on dental practice and oral health.
I would like to thank all our members for their valuable contribution to FDI’s work, especially the Taipei Dental Association. Long may it prosper!”

A toast to the guests…

A toast to the guests…

Opening cerimony gala dinner night.

Opening cerimony gala dinner night.

Musical moment during the opening ceremony.

Musical moment during the opening ceremony.

I'll be back someday...

I’ll be back someday…

Meeting with the ambassador Rong-chuan Wu, director general of the Department of NGO International Affairs

Meeting with the ambassador Rong-chuan Wu, director general of the Department of NGO International Affairs

At the Juming Museum. Ju Ming is a Taiwanese sculptor who attained fame in Taiwan in the 1970s, and in New York in 1983.

At the Juming Museum. Ju Ming is a Taiwanese sculptor who attained fame in Taiwan in the 1970s, and in New York in 1983.


FDI Congress at the NY Times Global Edition

December 31, 2012

istanbul2013Dear Colleagues and Friends of the FDI and of the global health community, we successfully held our 100th Congress this year in Hong Kong. I wish you a happy 2013 and all the best for the FDI. See you in Istambul, for the Centenary +1 FDI Anual World Dental Congress.

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Macau: a very special region…

September 5, 2012

After the 100th FDI Congress in Honk Kong, I had the opportunity to attend the II Sino-Portuguese Dental Congress in Macau.

Many thanks to the Government of Macau, to Dr. Peter Pang, president of Macau Dental Association, to Dr. Carlos Augusto, chair of the organising committee and Dra. Cristina António, recently elected president of MDA.

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Paulo Melo, president of the Board of the Portuguese Dental Association, Me, Carlos Augusto and Jaime Portugal, president of Portuguese scientific society SPEMD.

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Me and Peter Pang, presidente of Macau Dental Association.

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Group photo of the Portuguese delegation.

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Global group photo.

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Recognition of the Macau Dental Association to the Portuguese Dental Association.

With James Chih-Chien Lee, on my left, president of the Asia Pacific Dental Federation/Asia Pacific Regional Organization (APDF/APRO) of the FDI, and other distingued attendies

With James Chih-Chien Lee, on my left, president of the Asia Pacific Dental Federation/Asia Pacific Regional Organization (APDF/APRO) of the FDI, and other distingued attendies


Thank you Hong Kong for the 100th FDI AWDC!

September 4, 2012

多謝香港舉行第一百屆FDl世界牙醫聯盟週年會議。

It is now more than one month since the 100th FDI Annual World Dental Congress drew to a close in Hong Kong: I would like to take this opportunity to look back and draw some conclusions and share my thoughts on where FDI is headed during the coming years.

A little bit of FDI history by the occasion of the 100th congress in Hong Kong.

“The dentist is a little like the sentinel at the door of the human citadel, part of its defence with physicians and surgeons; often it is he who sounds the first alarm the the whole organism is in danger. He protects the region he is charged to guard against disease. If it is destroyed he restores it and re-establishes it to such a degree as to restore a physiological function believed lost. (…) So it can be said that dentistry is the most specialized, the most distinctive and the most autonomous among the medical sciences.”, FDI President, Charles Godon, inaugurating the founding of FDI (in 1900).

Opening ceremony entrance.

Opening ceremony entrance.

Group photo with local authorities, FDI officers and local organizing committee before the ceremony.

Group photo with local authorities, FDI officers and local organizing committee before the ceremony.

With Leung Chun-ying, Hong Kong prime minister.

With Leung Chun-ying, Hong Kong prime minister.

Formal opening of the ceremony.

Formal opening of the ceremony.

Recognition by the World Health Organization: In a recorded address, to the FDI 2012 Hong Kong Welcome Ceremony, WHO Director-General, Dr. Margaret Chan, paid tribute to the dental profession as a pioneer in the concept of preventive medicine—bearing in mind that prevention is cited as the main weapon in the fight against NCDs—and highlighted to role and outreach of specific projects such as Live.Learn.Laugh.


A message from Margaret Chan, general director of WHO

Political visibility: FDI managed to attain a high level of political visibility among the authorities of both the People’s Republic of China and its Special Administrative Region of Hong Kong. This was especially apparent at the Welcome Ceremony, held in the presence of the Chief Executive of Hong Kong and the Chinese Minister of Health. FDI awarded the latter a special Award for his contribution to oral health in China.

Awarding Chen Zhu, Chinese Minister of Health.

Awarding Chen Zhu, Chinese Minister of Health.

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From left to right, Sigmund Leung, president of HKDA and chairperson of the local organising committee, Leung Chun-ying, Hong Kong prime minister, Chen Zhu, China Health Minister, me and Jean-Luc Eiselé.

From left to right, Sigmund Leung, president of HKDA and chairperson of the local organising committee, Leung Chun-ying, Hong Kong prime minister, Chen Zhu, China Health Minister, me and Jean-Luc Eiselé.

Roll call of nations.

Roll call of nations.

Audience from all over the world.

Audience from all over the world.

Good luck...

Good luck…

Vision 2020: A high level of consensus was in evidence among the 300 or so General Assembly delegates at Vision 2020’s first reading. But it also generated a lively discussion on the role of the profession and it was an opportunity to reinforce our vision of the dentist as the leader of the dental team: Delegation – Yes; Substitution – No. Bearing in mind that the document was drafted, debated by all our members and committees, revised, and presented in something less than a year, this is quite an achievement. The dental profession worldwide now has an overarching vision of its future and can set about designing the policies and strategies that will get us where we want to be by 2020.

FDI Vision 2020 press conference.

FDI Vision 2020 press conference. From left to right, Stanley M. Bergman, chairman and CEO of Henry Schein Inc, Tao Xu, Professor and Dean, School of Stomatology Peking University (China), myself, Michael Glick, chair of the Vision 2020 Task Team, Analia Mendez, global director of Health Programmes & Partnerships for Oral Care and Household Care categories in Unilever.

Local and international media at the press conference.

Local and international media at the press conference.

Forum Session 1 - Vision 2020.

Forum Session 1 – Vision 2020.

These are just a few examples of how FDI has made and is making its voice heard through advocacy for better oral health at a global level. Its impact is also felt through global channels of social communication as well as reports from Hong Kong in the world media such as China Daily and the New York Times, among others. Our aim is to pursue this strategy, in line with the requirements and resolutions of the General Assembly.

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World Oral Health Forum: the inaugural edition of this new and innovative FDI event provided a real opportunity for a number of FDI stakeholders, including the dental industry, to freely discuss issues of concern. The presentations took place within the context of the General Assembly—i.e. we were taking advantage of the presence of a significant number of member national dental associations—but outside its political ramifications, that is, interventions were on a personal level and did not reflect a ‘national approach’. The event’s format proved a huge success for future congresses.

Forum Session 2 - Caries, a silent epidemic.

Forum Session 2 – Caries, a silent epidemic.

Forum Session 3 - Sustainable Development and Green Dentistry.

Forum Session 3 – Sustainable Development and Green Dentistry.

Addressing the General Assembly A.

Addressing the General Assembly A.

Delegates at the General Assembly.

Delegates at the General Assembly.

With Mitsuo Okubo, president of the Japan Dental Association.

With Mitsuo Okubo, president of the Japan Dental Association.

Portuguese Dental Association delegation.

Portuguese Dental Association delegation.

Highly participated discussion.

Highly participated discussion.

I would like to take this opportunity to welcome new FDI member associations from Argentina, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Brazil, Georgia, Germany, Mozambique, and the United Kingdom. I would also like to congratulate all individuals working within FDI who were elected to posts of responsibility during the 2012 General Assembly.

With Silvio Cecchetto, president of the Brazilian Association of Dentists, ABCD.

With Silvio Cecchetto, president of the Brazilian Association of Dentists, ABCD.

FDI staff.

FDI staff.

Young Dentist Worldwide forum.

Young Dentist Worldwide forum.

Me, FDI president-elect, TC Wong, and executive director, Jean-Luc Eiselé, among young dentists.

Me, FDI president-elect, TC Wong, and executive director, Jean-Luc Eiselé, among young dentists.

Colgate media briefing "Bright Smiles, Bright Futures" Oral Health Education Program.

Colgate media briefing “Bright Smiles, Bright Futures” Oral Health Education Program.

Group photo at the Unilever booth.

Group photo at the Unilever booth.

Congress participants.

Congress participants.

Scientific posters.

Scientific posters.

Scientific session.

Scientific session.

Now we can look forward to moving onwards and upwards at our 101st Annual World Dental Congress, to be held in Istanbul from 28 to 31 August 2013, under the brand name FDI 2013 Istanbul and theme ‘Bridging Continents for Oral Health’.

Taner Yücel, president of the Turkish Dental Association presenting the 101st FDI AWDC in Istanbul, 2013.

Taner Yücel, president of the Turkish Dental Association presenting the 101st FDI AWDC in Istanbul, 2013.

From Hong Kong to Istanbul. Sigmund Leung, myself and Taner Yücel.

From Hong Kong to Istanbul. Sigmund Leung, myself and Taner Yücel.

From 28 to 31 August 2013.

From 28 to 31 August 2013.