Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng has suggested that Guangdong and Macau jointly collect and make good use of “high-quality” development resources from both sides with the aim of further promoting cooperation between them, according to a statement by the Macau Government Information Bureau (GCS) on Tuesday.
Ho made the remarks during the 2023 Guangdong-Macau Cooperation Joint Conference, which was held on Tuesday at the Services Platform Complex for Commercial and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (PSCs), also known as Forum Macao complex, in Nam Van district.
The meeting was co-chaired by Ho and Guangdong Governor Wang Weizhong.
The theme of this year’s conference was deepening high-level cooperation between Guangdong and Macau and promoting the high-quality development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area (GBA), according to the statement.
Ho raises 3 points
During the meeting, the statement said, Ho raised three points aiming to promote Guangdong-Macau cooperation.
Firstly, according to the statement, Ho pledged that the Macau government will continue to promote its appropriate economic diversification drive. Ho said that his government will announce the final version of its “1+4” plan in due course aiming to appropriately diversify the city’s economy, clearly laying out goals and objectives as well as measures aiming to achieve them.
According to the statement, Ho acknowledged that the central authorities, as well as various provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities in the mainland, Guangdong in particular, have been strongly supporting Macau’s appropriate economic diversification drive.
Secondly, the statement said, Ho suggested that the Guangdong and Macau governments jointly deepen the development of the Guangdong-Macau In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin.
Ho said that the zone will need to attract investment that can accurately promote the development of its key industries. The zone will also need to encourage high-quality financial companies to engage in entrepreneurship there.
In addition, according to the statement, Ho said that the zone will need to continue to promote the development of its big health sector with the aim of developing itself into a national-level regional medical centre.
Thirdly, according to the statement, Ho suggested that the two governments jointly gather and make good use of more “high-quality” development resources with the aim of further promoting cooperation between the two regions.
Ho pledged that his government will intensively work to implement the main goals listed by the GBA Outline Development Plan and promote its high-tech cooperation with Guangdong.
In addition, the statement said, Ho said that his government will promote the organisation of MICE events jointly held in Guangdong and Macau.
Wang stresses Xi’s GBA strategies
During the meeting, Wang said that Guangdong and Macau must fully implement the decisions and strategies laid out by President Xi Jinping with the aim of further promoting the high-quality development of the GBA, according to the statement.
Wang said that both sides will need to ensure that the first-phase development goals of the Guangdong-Macau In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin will be achieved as scheduled.
According to the statement, Wang also said that both sides will need to boost the interconnection between the two sides’ financial markets.
Wang said that both sides will need to join hands to promote the development of the GBA as a world-class tourist destination.
In addition, according to the statement, Wang said that both sides will need to work intensively to promote people’s well-being in both Macau and Guangdong. Guangdong will also create a wider platform for Macau’s young people to pursue personal development and achieve their full potential, Wang said.
The GBA, which comprises the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau and nine cities in Guangdong, among them Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Zhuhai.
Guangdong province has a population of about 127 million. The GBA’s population stands at around 86 million.
Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng (right) shakes hands with Guangdong Governor Wang Weizhong at the Services Platform Complex for Commercial and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries in Nam Van district on the sidelines of Tuesday’s 2023 Guangdong-Macau Cooperation Joint Conference. – Photo: GCS
