Guangxi-Macao co-operation moves one step up

The Chief Executive, Mr Edmund Ho Hau Wah said today co-operation between Macao and Guangxi has moved one step up and he was looking forward to more results under the joint efforts of both governments. Mr Ho was speaking in the afternoon in Nanning, the regional capital of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, where he led an official delegation to attend the “Guangxi-Macao High-ranking Officials Meeting”. The delegation, which include high ranking MSAR officials and some 110 businessmen, were on the first day of their four-day official visit to the region, at the invitation of the regional government. Mr Ho said in their new phase of development, Guangxi and Macao were complementing one another and could further co-operate in a broader scope, including tourism and trade which had already shown new growth. The new arrangements which came with CEPA would give a new boost to the economic development of Macao and create new opportunities for enterprises from both sides, he said. “Guangxi, in addition to its world renowned tourism, has the strategic position of of being close to Asean, rich natural resources and enjoy many favourable policies, Mr Ho said. “Its contribution to the establishment of the China-Asean free trade zone provides Macao with new opportunities to form ties with Asean countries. Its active participation in the Pan-Pearl River Delta regional co-operation is also a drive for Guangxi-Macao co-operation. “The Macao SAR Government is willing to do the best to capitalise on its advantage to complement the development of Guangxi,” he said. The Secretary for Economy and Finance, Mr Francis Tam, briefed the participants of the meeting on the recent development of Macao. Mr Tam said that the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement between the Mainland and Macao (CEPA) was a new opportunity to promote Guangxi-Macao co-operation, which had a great outlook as both sides have their own advantages which complemented one another. He said the MSAR welcomed Guangxi enterprises to set up in Macao, to use Macao as a springboard to Portuguese-speaking countries and to capitalise on Macao’s advantage as a free port.