Representatives of the Economic Services Bureau and the Public Administration and Civil Service Bureau meet with the delegation of the 5th Mayors’ Visiting Program.
A delegation of the fifth Mayors' Visiting Programme for China's Neighbouring Countries (Mayors' Visiting Programme) attended a seminar on Wednesday (27 March) to exchange views with representatives respectively of the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO), the Institute for Tourism Studies (IFT), the Macao Economic Bureau (DSE), and the Public Administration and Civil Service Bureau (SAFP), to gain a better understanding of Macao’s developments in tourism, tourism training, commerce and trade, e-governance, and cooperation in various areas.
The delegation visited respectively MGTO and IFT in the morning. During the visit to MGTO, the Director, Ms Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, briefed the delegation on the present situation of Macao’s tourism industry, the main objectives of Macao’s five-year development plan regarding tourism, Macao’s positioning in terms of tourism cooperation within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (Greater Bay Area), and the Macao Tourism Industry Development Master Plan. All parties exchanged views regarding tourism cooperation between Macao and cities in neighbouring places.
At IFT, the delegation attended a seminar. During the session, IFT President Dr Fanny Vong noted that the Institute fully supported Macao's positioning regarding development as a world centre of tourism and leisure. IFT also supported Macao’s efforts to cultivate talented people and industry leaders with professional knowledge and skills for the tourism sector, at tertiary education level and via professional training. IFT had established an extensive network of tourism industry partners globally. The Institute often invited experts from other places around the world to share their knowledge, enabling IFT students to receive theoretical education and practical training in an international environment.
In the afternoon, the delegation met and exchanged views with representatives from DSE and SAFP. The DSE Director, Mr Tai Kin Ip, briefed the delegation on Macao’s developments in the economic and trade, convention and exhibition, specialised financial business, cultural and creative, and traditional Chinese medicine sectors. He also explained Macao’s positioning as “One Centre, One Platform”, the city’s economic and trade cooperation with mainland China and neighbouring regions, Macao’s participation in the “Belt and Road” initiative, the vision of the “Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area”,and the overall economic role played by Macao.
The Head of the Electronic Governance Planning and Infrastructure Division (DPIGE), Mr Chan Chi Kin, briefed the delegation on the Government’s work and achievements in various aspects of electronic governance. He said the Government was committed to applying multiple smart applications and technologies in streamlining administrative procedures and promoting scientific decision-making, to improve performance of governance and public services. He added that the Government would continue enhancing development of electronic governance, and had begun formulating the Macao SAR’s electronic governance development plan for 2020-2024.
People from Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries taking part in the Mayors' Visiting Programme delegation included: Mr Vidong Sayasone, member of the Central Committee of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party, Secretary of the Provinical Committee and Governor of the Vientiane Province of the Lao People's Democratic Republic (delegation head); Mr Yun Min, Governor of Preah Sihanouk Province of the Kingdom of Cambodia; Mr Lai Thanh Son, Executive Vice Chairman of the Bac Giang Province of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam; Mr Prakob Wongmaneerung, Vice Governor of Phuket Province of the Kingdom of Thailand; Mr Misle bin Haji Abd Karim, Brunei Muara District Officer of the Ministry of Home Affairs of the Nation of Brunei Darussalam; Mr Ahyani Sidik, Secretary of the Government of Surakarta in the Java Central Province of the Republic of Indonesia; Mr Mohamed Nazam bin Harun, Director of Arts, Tourism and Sports in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; and Mr Jessraf Sombong Palmares, Investment and Promotion Unit Programme Head in the Republic of the Philippines.
Delegates from mainland China included: the Mayor of Zhongshan, Mr Wei Weihan; Mayor of Changzhou, Mr Ding Chun; Vice Mayor of Guangzhou, Ms Li Ming; Vice Mayor of Chengdu, Ms Jing Jing; Vice Mayor of Shenzhen, Ms Wu Yihuan; Vice Mayor of Zhuhai, Mr Zhang Yisheng; Vice Mayor of Dongguan, Mr Zhang Guanzi; Vice Mayor of Foshan, Ms Tan Ping; Vice Mayor of Huizhou, Mr Yu Jinfu; Vice Mayor of Jiangmen, Mr Liang Xuzan; Vice Mayor of Zhaoqing, Mr Tang Xiaobing; and Vice Mayor of Qinhuangdao, Mr Feng Zhiyong.
The four-day Macao visit by the delegation of the Mayors' Visiting Programme commenced on 25 March. That day the delegation met with Government officials, attended seminars with Government departments, visited Macao’s World Heritage Historic Centre, and participated in business-matching and exchange activities. After its visit to Macao, the delegation was scheduled to travel to the Guangdong-Macao Traditional Chinese Medicine Technology Industrial Park in Hengqin, Zhuhai, on the mainland.
