Guests at the signing ceremony.
The Government attaches great attention to the development of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), which regarded as an important strategy to adequately diversify the economy. Secretary for Economy and Finance, Mr Leong Vai Tac, delivered a speech when he was in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, to oversee the signing ceremony of a framework agreement between the Traditional Chinese Medicine Science and Technology Industrial Park of Co-operation between Guangdong and Macao and a TCM company from the mainland on 7 September. He said such co-operation would expedite TCM development for Guangdong and Macao, adding the company would benefit from the policies favouring the Hengqin Area of Zhuhai, China (Guangdong) Pilot Free Trade Zone and from the bridging roles of the Park. As the first company from the mainland to establish business in the Park, the company would serve as an example in the industry, and could establish linkage with the Portuguese-speaking countries and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations through international network of the Park, said Mr Leong. Constructions of the Park are expected to conclude in the first half of 2017. The Park is gradually initiating discussions with the Portuguese-speaking countries in issues such as international registration, and import and export trade. The Macao Government and Zhuhai Government signed an agreement in 2011 for the Park’s development, which was also listed as one of the major tasks in this year for implementing the Framework Agreement on Cooperation between Guangdong and Macao. Directions of work include to support the building of a planting base for Chinese medicine, and to assist the processing, research and development, healthcare industries and personnel training. Officials presented at the ceremony included the Deputy Director of the National Health and Family Planning Commission and Director-General of the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Mr Wang Guoqiang; and Chief of Office of the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Mr Zha Dezhong.
