The 2016 Guangdong-Macao Co-operation Joint Conference was held in Macao earlier this year. Macao SAR Chief Executive Chui Sai On and the Governor of Guangdong Province Zhu Xiaodan led their delegations to join the meeting. The two sides signed 12 cooperation documents to bolster cooperation in areas ranging from tourism to joint participation in the development of the 'Belt and Road' Initiative'.

At the conference, Chui and Zhu both agreed that the co-operation between Macao and Guangdong had deepened, and that both governments have been successively co-operating in the past year. Both governments will continue operating the 'Framework Agreement on Co-operation between Guangdong and Macao' to improve economic status and living standards in both regions.

They agreed that in the upcoming year both government and society should work together to fully implement the 13^th Five-Year Plan, and also encourage Guangdong-Macao Co-operation to blend into national development plans. Macao is in the ongoing process of further integration with Mainland China, creating new opportunities and spaces for Guangdong-Macao co-operation. Both governments will work together to improve the livelihood of their citizens and the prosperity of both societies.

Highlights of the Guangdong-Macao Co-operation in the upcoming year include:

1. Complementing functions of Guangdong Government and Macao Government in order to further development of 'Belt and Road' Initiative and facilitate ability of companies in Guangdong and Macao to go global;

2. To advance exchanges and co-operation between young people in Guangdong and Macao, while supporting entrepreneurship of young people;

3. Make better use of opportunities arising from Guangdong-Macao liberalisation of trade and services and from developments on Mainland. Consequently, Guangdong-Macao co-operation will assume greater role in development of pilot Free Trade Zone and further liberalisation in trade and services. There will be greater financial participation by Macao in key projects in Guangdong;

4. Increase size of Guangdong-Macao co-operation, including promoting development of Hengqin New Era in Guangdong's Zhuhai Prefecture; seek greater partnership with economic development projects in Nansha, Zhongshan and Jiangmen. Also, create economic diversity in Macao economy.

5. Bolster co-operation in improving wellbeing of communities involved; promote simplification of boundary crossing procedures; advance co-operation on tourism matters; help promote technical and professional sectors within communities involved;

6. Bolster communication between taskforces established in Guangdong-Macao co-operation; enlarge roles of non-governmental think tanks in the two places in order to inspire further co-operation.

Both governments signed 12 co-operation documents after the conference, which included a 'Letter of Intent between Guangdong Province and Macao SAR for joint participation in the development of the 'Belt and Road' Initiative', 'the Agreement on entry to Hengqin of vehicles registered in the Macao SAR', 'the Cooperation Arrangement among Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao search and rescue authorities for mutual recognition of plans for co-operation between search and rescue services and regarding passenger ships', and a 'Memorandum of Co-operation on Guangdong-Macao tourism co-operation' among others.

The Deputy Director of Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council Zhou Bo, the Secretary for Economy and Finance Leong Vai Tac, the Vice Governor of Guangdong He Zhongyou, and Deputy Director of Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the MSAR Chen Sixi also presented at the conference.