In order to promote the old age security cooperation between Guangdong and Macao, the Department of Human Resources and Social Security of Guangdong Province recently led representatives from social security related departments of 17 cities in the province to Macao, and conducted a three-day exchange training with the Social Security fund (abbreviated to FSS in Macao) in order to learn about the latest developments of Macao’s two-tier social security system, and the social assistance policies and overview of the health care system, and to explore the development trend of economic and social security policies of the surrounding areas.

Under the “Framework Agreement on Cooperation Between Guangdong and Macao”, the Guangdong and Macao sides have established an exchange and cooperation mechanism for social security since 2013, and have strengthened the link between the two regions through regular exchange visits and training activities.  The exchange and training sessions were held from the 7th through the 9th day of this month.  A delegation of 21 people from Guangdong Province was led by Zhao Liyang, Deputy Director of Pension Insurance Office of the Department of Human Resources and Social Security of Guangdong Province.  The members included representatives from social security related departments from Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Shantou, Foshan, Shaoguan, Meizhou, Huizhou, Shanwei, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Zhanjiang, Zhaoqing, Qingyuan, Chaozhou, Jieyang and Yunfu.  Apart from introducing the latest developments of Macao’s two-tier social security system to the Guangdong side, the FSS also invited Lam Son Wa, the Head of Social Assistance Division of Department of Family and Community Services of the Social Welfare Bureau, and Dr. Kwok Chau Sha, Head of Technical Coordination Office of the Health Bureau, to give a presentation on the SAR Government’s social assistance policies and overview of the health care system respectively.  In addition, given that the current global economic and trade environment has had a certain impact on the economic and social security policies of other Asian countries, the FSS specially invited the Chairman of Macau Social Security Society, Chan Kin Sun, to analyze and discuss the related issues.  In addition to the thematic training, both sides also discussed in the exchange session the development and implementation of social security policies in the two regions and the implementation of old age security cooperation in the Greater Bay Area.  In addition, the FSS also arranged for the delegation to visit the Macau Cement Manufacturing Co., Ltd. to learn about the production, staffing and social security aspects of the manufacturing enterprises in Macao through discussion.

At the welcome dinner, President of the FSS Administrative Committee, Iong Kong Io, said that Guangdong and Macao take turns to hold the Guangdong-Macao old age security cooperation and exchange training every year.  Each time of the training provides an opportunity for the social security related staff of the two regions to have a fuller understanding of each other’s old age security policies and its future development.  Dedication to the development of Greater Bay Area is one of our country’s priorities for the future.  Iong believed that the exchange of people working and living within the Greater Bay Area will become more frequent in the future, and the social security cooperation between the cities will become closer.

The personnel of the two regions participating in the exchange and training activities said that through training and learning from each other, the level of cooperation between the two regions can be gradually enhanced, which will bring inspiration for the effective implementation of social security in the Greater Bay Area in the future.