Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng has met with senior officials from Zhuhai to exchange views on strengthening cooperation in COVID-19 prevention work, facilitating the cross-border movement of people, working on economic recovery and advancing construction of the Guangdong-Macau In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, the Macau Government Information Bureau (GCS) said in a statement on Friday
Zhuhai officials attending Friday's meeting at the Macau Government Headquarters included Communist Party of China (CPC) Zhuhai Municipal Committee Secretary Lu Yuyin and Deputy Secretary of the CPC Zhuhai Municipal Committee and Mayor Huang Zhihao.
The statement quoted Ho as pointing out during the meeting that Macau and Zhuhai are closely connected. Since the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, Macau and Zhuhai have been cooperating through their joint prevention and control mechanism to combat the novel coronavirus. Ho stressed that the mechanism has been effective in monitoring COVID-19 developments and preventing and controlling the cross-border spread of the virus.
COVID-19 prevention and control is still an essential task for both Macau and Zhuhai, apart from boosting cooperation in economic recovery, Ho said.
According to the statement, the daily cross-border movement average between Macau and Zhuhai currently stands at about 300,000, a figure that's proof of the concerted effort between the two cities to ensure that cross-border activities remain as normal as possible amid the pandemic, Ho said, adding the two sides should continue to adopt a science-based approach and remain cautious in addressing any new COVID-19 developments, while remaining meticulous about epidemic-control work, with a view to ensure the safety of the two places and normal cross-border activity.
Macau has recorded a decline in visitor arrivals as a result of the pandemic, highlighting the need for the Macau Special Administrative Region (MSAR) government to speed up Macau's appropriate economic diversification, Ho said. The chief executive underlined that Hengqin, which belongs to Zhuhai, has been fostering its own industrial development, which will have a positive effect on Macau’s economic diversification drive.
Ho said the Guangdong-Macau In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin has had a promising start, followed by good progress, thanks to the support from various parties, including the Zhuhai authorities.
During the closed-door meeting Ho praised the sound foundations of Zhuhai’s industrial development, predicting that the sector will have a prosperous future. Macau and Zhuhai will work closely and in an innovative way, in line with President Xi Jinping's instructions, in order to promote the development of the in-depth cooperation zone.
Ho also thanked the Zhuhai city government for ensuring a stable supply of fresh produce to Macau, thereby helping to maintain social stability in the special administrative region.
CPC Zhuhai Municipal Committee Secretary Lu said the long-established ties that connect the mainland city and Macau, as well as the the two places' united efforts, have achieved, as expected, effective results in the fight against the novel coronavirus pandemic.
During the meeting, Lu also said industrial development is key to Zhuhai’s development in the coming years, as a way of enhancing Zhuhai’s economic foundation so as to offer further support for Macau’s economic diversification drive. Lu also said that Zhuhai plans to optimise its citywide transport infrastructure and outbound transport network, in order to support its economic development while strengthening the basis for cooperation with Macau.
According to the statement, Mayor Huang added that the anti-COVID-19 work and industrial development are key tasks for cooperation between the two places. Meanwhile, Zhuhai will strive to ensure smooth cross-border operations with Macau, as well as to guarantee the safety and continuity of supplying fresh produce and raw water to Macau, both in the short- and long-term.
Other Macau officials present at the meeting included Secretary for Administration and Justice Andre Cheong Weng Chon, Secretary for Economy and Finance Lei Wai Nong, Secretary for Security Wong Sio Chak, Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Ao Ieong U, and Chief-of-Office of the Chief Executive’s Office Hoi Lai Fong.
A number of senior officials from Zhuhai also attended the meeting.
Zhuhai ("Pearl Sea"), which includes one of the Chinese mainland's five special economic zones (SEZs), has a population of 2.4 million. The 1,724-square-kilometre prefecture-level city includes 217 islands.
Macau, which has a population of around 680,000, covers a land area of 33 square kilometres.
(The article based on GCS statement includes additional reporting by The Macau Post Daily)
Caption: Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng (centre, front) poses with senior official from Zhuhai and senior local government officials during a Macau-Zhuhai working meeting at the Macau Government Headquarters on Friday. - Photo: GCS
