Chief Executive Mr Chui Sai On (2nd right) meets with the Secretary of the Fujian Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China, Mr You Quan (3rd right), and the Governor, Mr Su Shulin (4th right), in Fujian province.
Fujian’s advantages in the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road and its establishment of a Free Trade Zone (FTZ) would bring in more vitality to Fujian-Macao co-operation, the Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, said today. Macao and Fujian governments will make best use of the emerging development opportunities, pressing ahead on the multi-destination travel model and the promotion of A-Ma culture, as the contribution to the country’s development strategy of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road (“Belt and Road”). Mr Chui said this at a meeting with the Secretary of the Fujian Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China, Mr You Quan, and the Governor, Mr Su Shulin, before attending the Fujian-Macao high-level meeting in the evening. Leading a delegation to Fujian for a two-day visit, Mr Chui said they were there to learn from the province’s experience in building the FTZ and get better grasps on the “Belt and Road”. Mr Chui said the promotion of A-Ma culture, one of the cultural connections between the two places, would help Macao build closer relations with Taiwan and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). It was also in line with the Central Government’s advice on strengthening regional ties during the period of consolidation. He said the Secretary for Economy and Finance, Mr Leong Vai Tac, would represent the Government on the Fujian-Macao co-operation affairs. In the meeting, he thanked the Fujian government for its long-term concern and support, saying the two places had achieved great results in tourism since the establishment of the Special Administrative Region 15 years ago. The Secretary, Mr You, said there would be meetings held on a regular basis as a contact mechanism had been established by Fujian’s Vice-Governor, Mr Zheng Xiaoqong, and the Secretary Mr Leong Vai Tac. The profoundness in culture and history, and the increasing bi-lateral co-operation in trade, investment and culture, had provided more opportunities for further co-operation, he said. The Governor Mr Su said as Macao entered a new phase of development, the Fujian government would strongly support Macao’s strategy in economic diversification, in particular in tourism and culture. Fujian would make best use of Macao’s special position in the Portuguese-speaking countries, while it could be Macao’s platform with Taiwan, said Mr Su. Fujian is the core area of the Road and a province of FTZ, with the strategy to strengthen developments in investment, trade, border-crossing, shipping and finance. Members of the Macao delegation included Secretary for Economy and Finance Mr Leong Vai Tac, Chief-of-Office of the Chief Executive’s Office Ms O Lam, Chief of Office of the Secretary for Economy and Finance Ms Lok Kit Sim, Director of the Government Information Bureau Mr Chan Chi Ping, and Director of Protocol, Public Relations and External Affairs Mr Fung Sio Weng, and the Chief Executive’s consultant Mr Kou Chin Hong. The Deputy-Secretary of the Fujian Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China, Mr Yu Weiguo, and Vice-Governor, Mr Zheng Xiaosong, were also at the meeting.