Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng said in his speech at yesterday’s opening ceremony of the first conference of the International Science, Technology and Innovation Forum (ISTIF) of the Boao Forum of Asia (BFA) that the local government will further strengthen the top-down design for the development of sci-tech innovation.”
Ho, who has been chief executive since December last year, also said that his government will “continuously improve the institutional mechanism of sci-tech innovation and the commercialisation of the outcome of sci-tech research.”
Ho, a former business community leader and president of the Macau Legislative Assembly (AL), pointed out in his address that President Xi Jinping stated out in his speech at a grand gathering marking the 40th anniversary of the founding of the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone last month that “innovation is the primary driving force, and that the nation should unswervingly implement the strategy of innovation-driven development, foster new economic drivers, build up new momentums, and develop a new hub of technological and industrial innovation with global influence.
“His words are also of great significance to Macau,” Ho said.
Ho, a former member of the elite Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC), also said that “enterprises are also encouraged to actively apply advanced technologies for business transformation and upgrading, and to explore a market-driven development model that integrates industry, academia and research.”
‘Challenges & opportunities’
The chief executive also said that “looking to the future, we see both difficulties and hopes, challenges and opportunities. The world is experiencing changes of a magnitude not seen in centuries, and the [COVID-19] pandemic is further accelerating these profound changes.”
Ho pointed out that in response to the new situation, the central government “has proposed to accelerate the formation of a new development pattern of “dual circulation” in which the domestic economic cycle plays a leading role while the international economic cycle remains its extension and support, and Macau is where the two parts of the pattern meet.”
The chief executive stressed that “for Macau, this is not only an opportunity and an advantage, but also a responsibility and a duty.
“Macau will continue to adhere to the ‘One Country’ principle while taking advantage of the benefits offered by the ‘Two Systems’, integrate into the national development strategy, make full use of its special status and unique advantages, give full play to its role as a platform, actively participate in the Belt and Road Initiative and the construction of the Greater Bay Area, and further deepen and expand domestic and international exchanges and co-operation in economy, trade and technology.
“While continuing to promote the moderate diversification and sustainable development of its economy, Macau will also exert all its strengths to help the country achieve a higher level of opening-up and higher-quality development,” Ho concluded.
Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng addresses the first conference of the International Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation (ISTIF) of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) at the Service Platform Complex for Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries in Nam Van yesterday. – Xinhua
Senior representatives including Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng (12th from right) and his Hong Kong counterpart Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor (12th from left) pose for a group photo at the first conference of the International Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation (ISTIF) of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) at the Service Platform Complex for Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries in Nam Van yesterday. – Xinhua
