Central Government Approves Macao Participation in ‘Belt and Road’ Initiative
The central government fully affirmed the work of the Macao SAR Government undertaken in 2016 (Photo provided by Government Information Bureau)
The Chief Executive of the Macao SAR, Chui Sai On, paid a duty visit to Beijing from 21st to 23rd December, 2016 for meetings with national leaders. In concluding his visit, Chui remarked that the central government had fully affirmed last year's work of the Macao SAR Government whilst formally approving Macao's participation in the 'Belt and Road' Initiative.
Chiu said that more than 60 countries and regions were covered in the 'Belt and Road' Initiative, while Mainland provinces like Guangdong and Fujian are close to Macao, thus the territory will have a number of opportunities to participate in the initiative. The government will establish a working committee supervised by the Chief Executive's Office to co-ordinate efforts regarding how to press ahead with specific forms of co-operation, in particular with Mainland provinces close to Macao such as Guangdong and Fujian.
Chiu also introduced three aspects that Macao can currently participate in; namely, tourism, the financial sector, and humanistic care, connecting with relevant countries and regions via Macao's expatriate population, and also promoting cultural exchange via the 'Belt and Road' Initiative covering various countries and regions.
During his visit, Chui also met with the Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Wang Guangya as well as the Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, Zhang Dejiang. Chui was also received by President of the People's Republic of China Xi Jinping and Premier of the People's Republic of China Li Keqiang in order to report what the Macao SAR Government had achieved last year and plans for 2017.
Chiu said the state leaders had affirmed the direction of the local government's efforts in implementing several policies over the past year. These included efforts to develop Macao's strategic positioning as a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure, and a commercial and trade co-operation service platform between China and the Portuguese-speaking countries, as well as ensuring the work undertaken in the city's Five-Year Development Plan complemented the country's 13th Five-Year Plan.