The Government has organised a visit – with the participation of the 11 economies within the Pan-Pearl River Delta (PPRD) Region – to Brazil and Portugal. It aims to strengthen ties between the places on issues relating to environmental protection and management of water resources.
The visit – from 5 to 12 March – is an additional step in the efforts to diversify trade and economic cooperation between the mainland, Portuguese-speaking countries and Macao. It also aims to enhance Macao’s strategic positioning as a commercial and trade cooperation service platform between China and Portuguese-speaking countries.
The PPRD Region covers nine provinces and two special administrative regions (SARs) – an aggregation also known as the “9+2”. The PPRD Region comprises: Fujian; Jiangxi; Hunan; Guangdong; Guangxi; Hainan; Sichuan; Guizhou; Yunnan; the Hong Kong SAR; and the Macao SAR.
During the eight-day visit to Brazil and Portugal, the delegation is scheduled to visit: the Chinese embassy in Brazil; the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency; Brazil’s Ministry of the Environment and Ministry of Planning, Budget and Management; and environmental protection projects in the Amazon River area.
The delegation will also hold meetings with representatives of environmental companies in the two countries, to gain a better understanding on the latest developments of the sector. The group will also hold talks on how to introduce and apply the latest environmental protection technology in the different provinces of the mainland and in the SARs.
The delegation is led by the President of the Administrative Committee of the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute, Mr Cheong Chou Weng, and is composed of more than 50 members. The delegation includes: representatives from the National Development and Reform Commission; members of an environmental science association based in Sichuan Province; representatives from the Office of the Secretary for Economy and Finance of Macao; representatives from the Guangdong Provincial Development and Reform Commission; and members of governmental environment departments; and other related public departments from the provinces and SARs of the PPRD Region.
Premier Li Keqiang announced – when he visited Macao last year – a number of measures from the Central Government to support the development of Macao as a platform for enhancing cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries.
The visit to Brazil and Portugal also seeks to implement the measures outlined in the guidelines – issued by the State Council – on the promotion of further cooperation within the PPRD Region. It is also aligned with the vision outlined during the Pan-Pearl River Delta Regional Cooperation Chief Executive Joint Conference.
The Government organised in June 2016 a visit – with the participation of members from the PPRD Region – to Portugal and Belgium to explore further opportunities with the two European countries.