![](https://www.gov.mo/en/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2019/03/p19cwpxzws.jpeg)
(Macao – 23 March 2019) The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, today (23 March) met with the Taiwan region’s Mayor of Kaohsiung, Mr Han Kuo-yu, and his wife Mrs Lee Chia-fen at Government Headquarters. The Chief Executive expressed his warm welcome to the visiting Mayor and delegation, and the two groups exchanged views on promoting trade, and cultural and tourism activities.
The Chief Executive briefed the delegation on Macao's remarkable progress in all areas in the past 20 years since its return to the motherland. He said that Macao had achieved continuous economic growth, social stability and harmony, improvements in people’s livelihoods, and multicultural inclusiveness, and had become one of the wealthiest and safest cities in the world.
The State Council recently announced the “Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area”, further clarifying Macao’s functions in national development and its strategic position as one of the nodes of the “Belt and Road” initiative and a core city of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Macao’s development has created new horizons, new opportunities and new driving forces for further growth. The Chief Executive said Macao would serve the country’s needs, make use of the city’s advantages, and integrate its economy into the country's master development plan, in order to pursue continuous growth and improvement.
He also said that Macao and the Taiwan region shared deep historical ties, that had supported close and frequent exchange and cooperation in all areas. Thanks to their unique characteristics and advantages, Macao and Kaohsiung had broad scope for cooperation. The Macao Special Administrative Region Government would continue promoting a close and friendly relationship between the two regions, for the sake of people’s well-being. Macao also welcomed other cities of the Taiwan region to enhance exchanges with Macao, based on the foundation of the 1992 Consensus.
Mr Han thanked the Chief Executive and his wife Mrs Fok Wai Fun for the reception given to the delegation. He said he had witnessed the rapid economic development of Macao, and believed there was huge potential for cooperation between Kaohsiung and Macao, especially regarding exports of Kaohsiung’s agricultural products. The Mayor hoped to enhance trade with Macao, and promote tourism and cultural cooperation between the two cities.
The meeting was also attended by the Secretary for Economy and Finance, Mr Leong Vai Tac; the Chief-of-Office of the Chief Executive's Office, Ms O Lam; the Director of the Protocol, Public Relations and External Affairs Office, Ms Lei Ut Mui; and Advisor to the Chief Executive’s Office Mr Wu Kan. Kaohsiung officials attending the meeting included the Deputy Mayor of Kaohsiung, Mr Yeh Kuang-shih; the Director of the Information Bureau, Ms Anne Wang; the Director of the Agricultural Bureau, Mr Wu Fang-ming; and the Director of the Marine Bureau, Mr Chao Shiao-lien.
The delegation also visited the Portuguese-speaking Countries Food Products Exhibition Centre and the Tap Seac Health Centre in the morning.