Mainland China’s state-owned enterprises (SOEs) are “undoubtedly the cornerstone” for economic collaboration between China and Portuguese-speaking countries (PSCs) and the construction of the Macau-based China-PSCs platform, the director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in Macau, Fu Ziying, said yesterday.
Fu made the remarks in a speech at the 2019 Summit on Chinese Central SOEs Supporting Macau as a Cooperation Platform between China and PSCs. The one-day summit co-hosted by the local government and the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council (SASAC) was held at the Venetian in Cotai in conjunction with the Secretariat for Economy and Finance and the Liaison Office.
According to a statement by the Macau Government Information Bureau (GCS), over 400 representatives from central government ministries and departments, SOEs, enterprises from PSCs, and local companies and business associations attended the event.
A total of 11 agreements on cooperation in infrastructure, research and human resources training were signed during the summit.
Fu also said that the China-PSCs platform “is a significant bridge for Macau to demonstrate its competitive edge and strengthen international economic and trade cooperation,” adding that the platform “is also an important stage for mainland China, Macau and PSCs to jointly construct the Belt and Road, a crucial leverage for Macau to integrate itself in the country’s momentum and foster its moderate diversification of economic development.”
Fu’s 3 suggestions
Fu, the highest-ranking central government official posted to Macau, also put forward three suggestions: 1) SOEs should maximise the influence of their own advantages and put in more resources; 2) Macau enterprises should work closely with SOEs and be bold to grow internationally and make the most of such collaboration; 3) PSCs should be prepared for deepening international economic cooperation by creating a better business environment and quality commercial conditions.”
Hao Peng, secretary of the SASAC Community Party of China (CPC) Committee and chairman of the SASAC, noted in his speech that since the first summit in 2017, 51 cooperation projects have been initiated, involving 88 billion yuan, up by 15 percent compared to the data recorded before the first summit was held two years ago.
“Such growth indicates that the SOEs will fully utilise Macau’s China-PSCs platform to deepen and set up cooperation with B&R countries and region,” Hao said, adding platform’s aim was also to “enhance Macau’s long-term prosperity and stability with fortified and new cooperation”.
Chief Executive Fernando Chui Sai On pledged in his speech that Macau will maximise the efficacy of the China-PSCs platform “in an effort to achieve common development of mainland China, Macau and PSCs.”
The summit was themed “Explore New Opportunities in the New Era of Cooperation.” It was held on the eve of the 24th Macau International Trade and Investment Fair (MIF) and 2019 PSCs Products and Services Exhibition (2019 PLPEX) which both open this morning, based on the “fair-in-fair” concept.
Macau’s first chief executive Edmund Ho Hau Wah also attended the summit. Ho is a vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) in Beijing.
Chief Executive Fernando Chui Sai On (seated, sixth from right) applauds as a host of cooperation agreements are signed during yesterday’s summit at the Venetian in Cotai. Photo: GCS
