The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, meets the press.
The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, will hold meetings in Beijing with mainland authorities, to discuss the nurturing of the talent of Macao’s young people, assistance regarding the country’s preparation for the 2022 Winter Olympics, and participation in the development of the “Belt and Road” initiative.
Mr Chui briefed reporters this morning before he departed for Beijing to attend Sunday’s opening ceremony of the 5th Session of the 12th National People's Congress (NPC).
During his four-day visit to the capital, Mr Chui will hold meetings with, respectively, officials of the Ministry of Education, the General Administration of Sport of China, and the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council.
Regarding a scheduled meeting with the Ministry of Education, Mr Chui said he would discuss further cooperation on nurturing the talents of Macao’s young people, as part of the city’s economic development effort.
The Ministry of Education has increased – since the start of the year – the number of Macao students directly admitted to mainland universities; and has expanded the list of universities covered by the scheme.
Such efforts would improve the opportunity for Macao students to receive an education at one of the renowned universities on the mainland, thus helping Macao to develop its stock of talented people available for work in various professions, said Mr Chui.
As of mid-January, there was a total of 723 Macao students – the highest number on record – enrolled in mainland universities via the direct admission scheme, Mr Chui said.
The Chief Executive additionally said he would discuss during a meeting with the General Administration of Sport of China how to strengthen cooperation in competitive sports and how to promote “sport for all” in Macao.
The Government would explore further partnership with the Administration in relation to the promotion of the 2022 Winter Olympics, and the supply to the event of volunteer services. The event is to be held in Beijing. Macao had previously held a series of promotional activities in relation to the 2008 Summer Olympics that were held in Beijing, noted the Chief Executive.
Mr Chui would also meet officials of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, to discuss how Macao could participate in the country’s development of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road, collectively known as “Belt and Road” initiative. The discussion would touch on the achievements of recent visits by the Chief Executive to Fujian Province and Guangdong Province.
A topic for discussion with the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office would be how Macao might take advantage of the network of overseas Chinese with links to the city, and how this might contribute to the “Belt and Road” initiative. Of particular interest was how to make better use of the network of overseas Chinese in order to enhance people-to-people exchanges – one of the major goals of the initiative – said Mr Chui.
Officials accompanying Mr Chui on the visit included: the Chief-of-Office of the Chief Executive’s Office, Ms O Lam; the Director of the Government Information Bureau, Mr Chan Chi Ping; and the Director of the Protocol, Public Relations and External Affairs Office, Mr Fung Sio Weng.