The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, today said that making good use of opportunities arising from the development of China’s “Belt and Road” initiative would help countries participating in Forum Macao to intensify further the efforts toward peaceful and complementary cooperation.
The Chief Executive made the comments during a banquet – hosted by the SAR Government and the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China – that welcomed officials and guests attending 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.
Forum Macao’s aims corresponded to those mapped out by the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road (collectively known as the “Belt and Road” initiative), stated Mr Chui.
Mr Chui said the “Belt and Road” initiative proposed by the Central Government was widely recognised: the country was developing a shared platform that could benefit people in the countries covered by the initiative.
The Chief Executive added that the successful hosting of the G20 Summit 2016 in Hangzhou in September had shown to the world the opportunities for developing the global economy: namely by forging innovative, invigorated, interconnected and inclusive development.
He said consensus that had been achieved at the G20 Summit on a range of topics would trigger further rounds of exploration and discussion during the 5th Ministerial Conference of Forum Macao. The latter opens tomorrow (Tuesday 11 October).
Forum Macao – through its role and functions – provided an indispensable service for China and the Portuguese-speaking countries, said Mr Chui.
Forum Macao had already registered significant achievements in the 13 years since its establishment, Mr Chui said. In order to sustain this success, Forum Macao would continue to: implement principles that were of mutual and complementary benefit to participating countries, applied to all in an even-handed manner; promote diversified services; and push forward the goals set out in strategic plans formulated during each edition of the Ministerial Conference of Forum Macao.
In addition, the SAR Government was implementing its first ever Five-Year Development Plan – a blueprint for Macao’s socio-economic development spanning the period 2016 to 2020 inclusive – in order to accommodate strategies laid out in the country’s 13th Five-Year Plan, said the Chief Executive.
Macao’s Five-Year Development Plan gives top priority to advancing the city’s contributions to the development of the “Belt and Road” initiative; and to propelling the development of a commercial and trade cooperation service platform between China and the Portuguese-speaking countries (the latter being known as the “Platform” policy).
The setting up by the SAR Government of the Committee for Development of the Commercial and Trade Cooperation Service Platform between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries, highlighted the Government’s efforts in pressing ahead with coordination for achieving the Platform strategy, said Mr Chui.
More than 800 guests attended tonight’s banquet welcoming officials and participants attending the Ministerial Conference. The guests included: members of the Central Government delegation; members of the delegations from the Portuguese-speaking countries that participate in Forum Macao; the Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), Mr Ho Hau Wah; principal and other officials of the SAR Government; members of the Executive Council; members of the Legislative Assembly; senior officials of representative offices in Macao of the Central Government; and members of the local community representing many walks of life.