Macao now is one of the richest regions in China, and one of the richest regions in the Asia, said Portuguese Foreign Minister Augusto Santos Silva during an interview with CGTN.

"For instance, you can see the GDP per capita, it is one of the highest in the world," he said, adding that the structure of Macao's economy depends on gaming.

"It is only one drive," he noted, and said that the Chinese government has been working hard to try to diversify Macao's economy. "Transforming it into a place of tourism, financial services and also technology."

Referring to the Greater Bay Area, the foreign minister pointed out that it will be an important opportunity and a challenge for Macao. "Of course, if it results, Macao will be a much more important access in China's economy, together with Hong Kong and Guangdong."

The bay area consists of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), the Macao Special Administrative Region (Macao SAR), as well as nine cities in Guangdong Province: Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Huizhou, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Jiangmen and Zhaoqing.

Covering a total area of 56,000 square kilometers, the bay area had a combined population of about 70 million at the end of 2017 and its gross domestic product (GDP) reached around 10 trillion yuan (1.48 trillion U.S. dollars) in 2017.

The Portuguese foreign minister also mentioned that relations with China is import for Portugal, as well as for Europe.