Central People’s Government Liaison Office in Macau Director Fu Ziying said yesterday that the central government attaches “unprecedentedly” high importance to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area (GBA) development, adding that the GBA is bringing “unprecedented historic opportunities” to Macau’s future development.
Fu made the remarks while delivering a keynote speech at a GBA seminar held by the local government’s Policy Research and Regional Development Bureau (DSEPDR) at Macau Tower yesterday.
Fu referred to what President Xi Jinping said before, namely to support Macau “to grab opportunities, develop new advantages, perform new functions, achieve new development, and achieve new contributions”.
In order to implement Xi’s expectations for Macau’s participation in the GBA development, Fu listed the following four pieces of advice:
(1) Strengthening the development drive
Fu said that Macau should grab the historic opportunity and continue to strengthen the GBA development drive, adding that as a “core GBA city”, Macau should “fully utilise” the market, and “fully promote” Macau’s “adequate economic diversification”.
(2) Improving ‘core competitiveness’
Fu also said that Macau should utilise its “unique advantages”, and continuously improve its “core competitiveness”. Fu underlined that the “One Country, Two Systems” principle was GBA’s “biggest feature” compared to its counterpart bay areas in the world, adding that it was also the GBA’s “biggest advantage”.
Fu also pointed out that Macau needed to “expand” its own advantages when participating in the GBA development, and “continuously improve” Macau’s “status and capabilities” in the GBA region.
(3) Deepening regional cooperation
Fu pointed out that Macau should utilise its “current resources” and “continuously deepen” regional cooperation. Fu said that Macau should “properly utilise” the advantages offered by the GBA and policies such as those concerning the Guangdong Free Trade Zone and Hengqin Island, adding the goal was to promote cooperation between Macau and Zhuhai, and between Macau and Hengqin, to achieve “win-win” development for both places.
(4) Improving people’s livelihoods
Fu further pointed out that Macau should also improve people’s livelihoods, adding that the “fundamental starting point” of the GBA was “to offer a better development environment and create a better life” for the GBA residents.
Fu also underlined that Macau should take care of issues such as undeveloped plots of land, urban renewal, housing prices, traffic, and disaster prevention and relief, in order to “continuously improve Macau residents’ sense of gain and happiness”.
Chief Executive Fernando Chui Sai On said in his speech that Macau should utilise its “own advantages”, and perform the functions of “core engine” in the GBA development.
Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in Macau Director Fu Ziying delivers a keynote speech at a GBA seminar held by the local government’s Policy Research and Regional Development Bureau (DSEPDR) at the Macau Tower Convention and Entertainment Centre yesterday. Photo: Courtesy TDM
PLEASE READ THE FULL ARTICLE IN OUR PRINT EDITION.
