Macau Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng yesterday held talks with the minister of the General Administration of Customs (GAC), Yu Jianhua, as well as a vice-minister of the Ministry of Commerce (MOC), Wang Shouwen, in two separate meetings in Beijing, according to two statements by the Macau Government Information Bureau (GCS) late last night.
In the meeting between Ho and Yu, according to GCS, both exchanged views on topics such as promoting the development of the Guangdong-Macau In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, and Macau’s appropriate economic diversification drive.
The zone is also colloquially known as in-depth cooperation zone.
In his meeting with Yu, Ho expressed his gratitude to the General Administration of Customs for rolling out measures and policies that strongly support the in-depth cooperation zone’s development, according to GCS.
Ho said during the meeting that Macau has a large population in relation to its tiny land size, because of which Macau should put special emphasis on developing certain industries that are suitable for its economic development, according to GCS.
According to the local Statistics and Census Bureau, Macau’s population stood at 672,800 at the end of last year, when its land size amounted to just 33.3 square kilometres.
In his meeting with Ho, Yu expressed his thanks to the Macau Special Administrative Region (MSAR) government for its cooperation with the General Administration of Customs in combatting smuggling as well as COVID-19 prevention and control, according to GCS.
Yu also pledged that the General Administration of Customs will continue to strengthen its innovative measures that aim to support the “high-quality” development of the in-depth cooperation zone.
According to GCS, Yu pointed out that Macau is an important part of the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area (GBA), adding that the General Administration of Customs will continue to work in compliance with the central government’s various policies and measures that support Macau’s development.
Meanwhile, in the meeting between Ho and Wang, both exchanged views on topics such as the central government’s stronger promotion of Macau’s economic development, according to GCS.
In his meeting with Wang, Ho expressed his gratitude to the Ministry of Commerce for its long-term support of Macau’s economic development.
Ho noted during yesterday’s meeting that MICE is an important industry for Macau’s appropriate economic diversification drive, adding that Macau has been gradually resuming the organisation of its various MICE events since the COVID-19 pandemic ended early this year, according to GCS.
Ho also noted that the central government has announced various important policies and measures that strongly support the in-depth cooperation zone’s development.
In his meeting with Ho, Wang stressed that the Ministry of Commerce has been continuously paying close attention to Macau’s development. Wang said that Macau’s economy has gradually been recovering thanks to various achievements made by various segments of Macau’s civil society under Ho’s leadership, according to GCS.
Wang said that Ho’s visit to the Ministry of Commerce yesterday would further boost the deep cooperation relationship that has been jointly established by both sides.
Wang pledged that the Ministry of Commerce will continue to strongly support the MSAR government’s drive to strengthen the development of Macau’s convention and exhibition sector, as well as its ongoing work to attract investment to the in-depth cooperation zone, according to GCS.
Ho yesterday morning attended the closing meeting of the first session of the 14th National People’s Congress (NPC) in the national capital. He is scheduled to arrive back in Macau today.
Macau Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng (right) shakes hands with General Administration of Customs (GAC) Minister Yu Jianhua in Beijing yesterday. – Photo: GCS
Macau Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng (right) shakes hands with Vice Commerce Minister Wang Shouwen in Beijing yesterday. – Photo: GCS
