The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, and the Governor of Jiangsu Province, Mr Shi Taifeng, sign the memorandum of understanding on building the Jiangsu-Macao Cooperation Park.
The Jiangsu-Macao Cooperation Park will be built in Changzhou Prefecture, Jiangsu Province, it was announced today following a new memorandum of understanding signed by the two governments. The memorandum of understanding between the Jiangsu Provincial People's Government and the Government of the Macao Special Administrative Region on building the Jiangsu-Macao Cooperation Park, was signed in Macao by the Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, and the Governor of Jiangsu Province, Mr Shi Taifeng. The Park will be positioned as a platform for: advancing Jiangsu-Macao cooperation; promoting cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries; allowing young entrepreneurs from Macao to establish a business in the mainland; and boosting exchanges and training initiatives involving civil servants from Jiangsu and Macao. Both sides will now focus on the planning for the Park, under the principles of scientific decision-making and timely planning. The two governments will commission an internationally renowned consulting firm to carry out the works. The Government hopes the Park will provide further impetus for closer cooperation between Jiangsu and Macao, and will help advance Macao’s role as a commercial and trade cooperation service platform between China and the Portuguese-speaking countries (known as “Platform” policy), thus increasing the city’s contributions to national development. The Park is expected further to push forward Macao’s adequate economic diversification and to offer new development opportunities for Macao’s population, particularly young people. The cooperation between Jiangsu and Macao is a successful example of the implementation of the framework “One country, two systems”. The Park is an innovative project that will be complementary to the strengths of each side. Macao and Jiangsu have established a productive framework for working together: the two governments signed in March a memorandum of understanding regarding establishing a joint taskforce to study the planning for the Jiangsu-Macao Cooperation Park; and a memorandum of understanding on exchange initiatives involving civil servants from Jiangsu and Macao. The Government attaches great importance to regional cooperation. It continues to strengthen ties with Guangdong Province and other areas of the Pan-Pearl River Delta region, while additionally exploring cooperation opportunities with places covered by the Yangtze River Economic Belt; it is under the initiative that the Government is pushing forward cooperation with Jiangsu Province. Macao and Jiangsu have an active partnership in economy and trade. Since its first edition in 2011, the Jiangsu – Macau – Portuguese-speaking Countries Business Forum has been taking place in the Macao International Trade and Investment Fair (MIF), a trade event held annually in Macao. The Forum aims to further the relationship between Jiangsu, Macao and Portuguese-speaking countries. In addition, there are other ongoing cooperation efforts between Jiangsu and Macao, covering: tourism, education, training of social workers and health care.