Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng underlined yesterday that the ongoing development of the Guangdong-Macau In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin will need to be further integrated with Macau’s “1+4” appropriate economic diversification campaign, according to a statement by the Macau Government Information Bureau (GCS) last night.
Ho made the remarks during a regular meeting of the zone’s administrative committee yesterday.
Yesterday’s meeting, which was held on Zhuhai’s Hengqin island, was the seventh meeting of the zone’s administrative committee, according to the statement.
The zone was inaugurated in September 2021.
The Guangdong-Macau In-depth Cooperation Zone’s top decision-making body is its administrative committee, which is jointly headed by Guangdong Governor Wang Weizhong and Ho.
The zone’s executive committee, which is run under the administrative committee, is the body tasked with the zone’s daily functioning and execution of tasks. The executive committee is headed by Macau Secretary for Economy and Finance Lei Wai Nong.
The Macau government’s 1+4 model aims to consolidate and diversify the development of the city’s tourism and leisure industry while putting special emphasis on promoting the development of four nascent industries, namely 1) big health, 2) modern finance, 3) high-tech, and 4) MICE and commerce as well as culture and sport.
During yesterday’s meeting, which was co-chaired by Ho and Wang, Ho said that the in-depth cooperation zone’s development made “remarkable” achievements last year in various aspects such as institutional innovation, industrial synergy, as well as projects and measures making it more convenient for Macau residents to work and live in Hengqin, and preparations for the future establishment of a single customs territory comprising Macau and Hengqin, according to the statement.
Ho underlined that Macau and Guangdong will need to come up with solutions to still existing difficulties hindering the in-depth cooperation zone’s development.
Ho’s 3 suggestions
Ho made three suggestions for promoting the zone’s development. Firstly, according to the statement, Ho pledged that the Macau government will always firmly remember the original intent to develop Hengqin, ensuring that the in-depth cooperation zone’s development achievements will live up to the central authorities’ expectations.
Consequently, according to the statement, Ho said that the Macau government is determined to achieve the in-depth cooperation zone’s first-phase development goals this year as scheduled.
Ho noted that President Xi Jinping is paying close attention to Hengqin’s development, adding that the central authorities’ respective ministries and commissions have been providing strong support for the cause, because of which, Ho said, the zone’s administrative committee will resolutely ensure that it “will not disappoint” Xi, the central authorities, as well as residents of Macau and Guangdong.
Secondly, according to the statement, Ho said that the administrative committee will continue to promote the zone’s development in line with the principle that aims to make progress while ensuring stability. Ho said that the administrative committee will complete the setting-up of the respective systems for the implementation of the future single customs territory.
According to the statement, Ho also said that the administrative committee will continue to promote the implementation of various public services and social welfare measures in compliance with Macau’s standards.
Thirdly, according to the GCS statement, Ho said that the administrative committee will firmly remember the high-quality development principle. Ho underlined that promoting Macau’s economic diversification is one of the in-depth cooperation zone’s important tasks, adding that the zone’s development will need to further integrate into Macau’s “1+4” appropriate economic diversification drive.
Ho noted that the in-depth cooperation zone will see the 3rd anniversary of its establishment this year, when the zone’s first-phase development goals are scheduled to be achieved.
Need to heed Xi’s instructions
During yesterday’s meeting, Wang noted that Hengqin’s development is an important policy and measure planned and promoted by Xi for promoting Macau’s appropriate economic diversification drive.
Wang underlined the need for the administrative committee to carefully study Xi’s important instructions for Guangdong-Macau’s cooperation on developing Hengqin.
Wang pledged that Guangdong will firmly remember that the original intent to develop Hengqin is to serve and promote Macau’s appropriate economic diversification.
Wang also said that Guangdong will continue its work on creating an environment good for living and work in Hengqin that is becoming more and more similar to the one in Macau.
Macau Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng (left) and Guangdong Governor Wang Weizhong address yesterday’s meeting of the Administrative Committee of the Guangdong-Macau In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin. – Photos: GCS
