The Secretary for Economy and Finance, Mr Leong Vai Tac (centre, left), meets with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the PRC to the Kingdom of Belgium, Mr Qu Xing, in Brussels.
The Secretary for Economy and Finance, Mr Leong Vai Tac, briefed representatives from the European Union on Macao’s latest economic developments, including the Government’s first-ever Five-Year Development Plan. The briefing took place in Brussels, Belgium on Monday (5 December) during the 21st EU-Macao Joint Committee meeting, which was co-chaired by the Managing Director of the European External Action Service for Asia and the Pacific, Mr Gunnar Wiegand, and Mr Leong. During the meeting, both sides updated each other on the latest developments of their economies and exchanged views on several issues. Topics discussed included: taxation; legal cooperation; and the Government’s current procurement system. The two sides agreed to strengthen cooperation in priority fields of mutual interest, such as legal training, interpretation and translation training, research and innovation, combating human trafficking, as well as environment protection. Regarding tax policies, the EU welcomed Macao’s commitment to implement an automatic system for information exchange in 2018, and Macao’s recent decision to join the Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) Inclusive Framework. On EU-Macao cooperation, both sides welcomed the smooth progress of the Third Macao-EU Co-operation Programme in the Legal Field, aimed at promoting the modernisation and development of Macao’s legal system. The European Union and the Macao SAR noted that the “EU-Macao Collaboration Scheme for Research and Innovation" – co-funded by the two sides – would encourage Macao researchers to take part in the EU’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme. The two sides additionally agreed to explore cooperation on environment and green technology, particularly during the Macao International Environmental Co-operation Forum and Exhibition (MIECF). During the meeting, the EU and Macao representatives agreed to continue the training programme in conference interpretation and translation in Chinese and Portuguese in order to meet the demand of the EU and of Macao for qualified interpreters for both languages. The two sides also agreed to strengthen exchanges by establishing a regular dialogue in order to support development of the increasing role of the EU businesses operating in Macao. In addition, Secretary Leong briefed the EU officials about the first ever Five-Year Development Plan for Macao – a blueprint for the city’s socio-economic development spanning the period 2016 to 2020 inclusive. The Plan highlights the Government’s administrative efforts to: achieve Macao’s moderate economic diversification; position the city as a world centre of tourism and leisure and as a commercial and trade cooperation service platform between China and the Portuguese-speaking countries (collectively known as the “Centre and Platform” policies), as envisaged under the country’s 13th Five-Year Plan; and contribute to the development of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road (collectively known as “Belt and Road” initiative) Monday’s meeting was the 15th annual meeting since China’s resumption of the exercise of sovereignty over Macao. The previous EU-Macao Joint Committee meeting was held in Macao on 5 December 2015. The annual bilateral meeting is in accordance with Article 16 of the EC-Macao Trade and Co-operation Agreement, signed on 15 December 1992. Other Government officials attending the meeting in Brussels included: the Director of the Macao Economic and Trade Office to the European Union in Brussels, Ms O Tin Lin; the Director of the Macao Economic Services, Mr Tai Kin Ip; Executive Director of the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute, Ms Gloria Batalha Ung; and several representatives from, respectively, the Office of the Secretary for Economy and Finance, the Office of the Secretary for Security, the Science and Technology Development Fund, the Financial Services Bureau, the Legal Affairs Bureau, the Public Administration and Civil Service Bureau, and the Macao Economic Services. While in Brussels, Secretary Leong also met with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to the Kingdom of Belgium, Mr Qu Xing, to exchange views on economic development and cooperation. Following the official visit to Brussels, Mr Leong headed to Lisbon, Portugal. While there, he is scheduled to meet with officials from the Portuguese Government. Mr Leong will also attend events related to a memorandum of understanding on promotion of entrepreneurship and economic and business cooperation, signed in Macao during the 5th Ministerial Conference of the Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Macao). Mr Leong will return to Macao on Thursday (8 December).
