Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, meets with the Secretary of the CPC Jiangsu Provincial Committee, Mr Luo Zhijun.
The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, today said the establishment of a joint Jiangsu-Macao taskforce – to study options for building an industrial zone – would raise ties between the two places to a new level. Mr Chui, who is on a two-day visit in Jiangsu Province, made the comments this evening (Tuesday) during a meeting with the Secretary of the CPC Jiangsu Provincial Committee, Mr Luo Zhijun. The joint taskforce aimed to study the positioning and possible fields of cooperation of the proposed industrial zone, before the two governments take further steps, Mr Chui said. The Chief Executive said strong cooperation with Jiangsu had already been supportive to Macao’s economic development and would further help to develop and maintain the sustainability of the city’s economy in the long run. Strengthening regional cooperation was one of the particular strategies that would help transform Macao into a world centre of tourism and leisure and a commercial and trade cooperation service platform between China and the Portuguese-speaking countries (collectively known as “Centre and Platform” policies), said Mr Chui. The Centre and Platform policies were mentioned in the country’s 13th Five-Year Plan. The Centre and Platform policies would bring Macao new opportunities. Such opportunities would include special roles in helping to advance the nation’s Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st Century Maritime Silk Road strategies (collectively known as “Belt and Road” initiative), said Mr Chui. During the meeting, Mr Luo said Macao was an effective platform to link Jiangsu and the Portuguese-speaking countries. For future cooperation, Jiangsu would draw on Macao’s advantages in education, science and technical knowledge, finance and cultural affairs. Macao would draw on Jiangsu’s strengths in economic development and technology, said Mr Luo. Following the meeting, the Government of Jiangsu Province and the Government of the Macao Special Administrative Region jointly endorsed two memorandums of understanding. A memorandum regarding formation of a joint taskforce for the establishment of a Jiangsu-Macao industrial zone was signed by the Chief-of-Office of the Chief Executive’s Office, Ms O Lam, and the Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of Jiangsu Province, Mr Fei Shaoyun. A memorandum between the two places regarding civil servant training was endorsed by the Chief-of-Office of the Secretary for Administration and Justice, Ms Iao Man Leng, and by Mr Fei. Earlier in the afternoon, Mr Chui visited the Nanjing Jiangning High-Tech Industrial Park to learn about the latest economic developments in the Province and its successful development of industrial zones. Nanjing Jiangning High-Tech Industrial Park was established in 1997 and covers an area of 195 square kilometres. The Park is the only nationally approved zone containing high-tech industries, higher education facilities and tourism attractions. Officials accompanying Mr Chui in Jiangsu Province included: the Director of the Government Information Bureau, Mr Chan Chi Ping; the President of the Administrative Committee of the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute, Mr Cheong Chou Weng; the Director of the Public Administration and Civil Service Bureau, Mr Kou Peng Kuan; and the Acting Director of the Macao Economic Services, Mr Tai Kin Ip.