Macao and Sichuan would seek more room for co-operation on all aspects, based on the communication mechanism built up when Macao actively took part in reconstruction projects following the earthquakes in 2008. The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, said this today after he arrived in Sichuan from Beijing where he attended the opening ceremony of the China Beijing International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS). Mr Chui met with the Secretary of the Sichuan Provincial CPC Committee, Mr Liu Qibao on his arrival. Mr Liu said in the meeting that the Sichuan Government had highly appreciated the massive relief works contributed by the Macao Government. He said the disaster area has been reconstructed rapidly, thanks to contributions by the Macao Government, adding that all except two of 105 relief projects sponsored by Macao have been completed, with the remaining to be finished within this year. He said Sichuan had high regards for the co-operation with Macao and both sides might seek for more joint projects based on the good communication mechanism and platform. The Vice Chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, Mr Edmund Ho Hau Wah, said Macao top officials highly regarded the relief projects and visited Sichuan to inspect those projects over the past years. He said he was delighted to see reconstruction had gone ahead smoothly. Mr Ho also said that as the two governments continued to enhance co-operation in the near future, he believed more Macao businesspeople would invest in Sichuan and in entire western region.
Mr Chui, in reviewing the works done by the two governments over the past four years, said the reconstruction projects in the disaster areas went smoothly and this demonstrated a good and co-operative relation between the two governments.
Mr Chui said that Macao and Sichuan would broaden and build up co-operation in all areas, and the two governments would plan more co-operative projects in the latter half of the year. Mr Li Benjun, Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Macao Special Administrative Region, was also in the meeting. Macao officials at the meeting included the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Mr Cheong U, the Chief-of-Office of the Office of the Chief Executive, Mr Tam Chon Weng, the Secretary-General of the Executive Council, Ms O Lam.
Mr Chui and the Macao delegation will attend the festivities to celebrate the completion of the multi-functional stadium sponsored by the Macao Government
On 12 May 2008, after a powerful earthquake that hit Wenchuan in Sichuan, the Macao Government injected five billion patacas for reconstruction works and Macao Foundation injected 500 million patacas for works in the province as well.
