The Secretary for Economy and Finance, Mr Leong Vai Tac, speaks to reporters.
The 5th Ministerial Conference of Forum Macao has had outstanding outcomes, including measures – announced by Premier Li Keqiang – to push forward development in Macao, said the Secretary for Economy and Finance, Mr Leong Vai Tac. Those measures would help further advance an adequate level of economic diversification in the city, as well as maintaining Macao’s sustainability and boosting its bridging role between China and the Portuguese-speaking countries. Mr Leong made his comments on Wednesday (12 October) during a press conference outlining the achievements of the 5th Ministerial Conference of the Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Macao), also known as Forum Macao. During the Ministerial Conference, member countries of Forum Macao signed a number of agreements to broaden cooperation in the period spanning 2017 to 2019. Agreements signed included the “Strategic Plan for Economic and Trade Co-operation (2017-2019)” and a memorandum of understanding in relation to boosting cooperation on production capacity. The 5th Ministerial Conference of Forum Macao expanded opportunities for networking and exchanges among entrepreneurs and financiers – and among economic and financial officials – from member countries, said Mr Leong. Premier Li announced – while in Macao this week for a three-day inspection tour – a total of 18 measures to support the development of Forum Macao and the countries participating in the Forum; as well as another 19 supportive measures to drive further development of the SAR. The 18 measures to support Forum Macao and its member countries cover five major areas for cooperation, namely: production capacity; economic development; people-to-people and cultural ties; the marine sector; and enhancing Macao’s role as a commercial and trade cooperation service platform between China and the Portuguese-speaking countries (known as the “Platform” policy). The Central Government also outlined 19 measures to drive further development of the SAR, namely via enhancing Macao’s role in connecting China and the Portuguese-speaking countries. Those measures included supporting the Macao SAR to become a financial services platform between China and Portuguese-speaking countries. Other measures involved establishing in Macao: the Association of Enterprise Directors of China and Portuguese-speaking Countries; the Center for Cultural Exchanges between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries; the Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries; and a Chinese-Portuguese bilingual talent training base. The Secretary urged people across the community to develop their understanding of the measures, in order to grasp the development opportunities arising from them.