The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, today held meetings in Beijing to explore further cooperation opportunities in science, technology and innovation, as well as partnerships to nurture a greater number of Macao research professionals.

The Chief Executive held in the morning a meeting with the Minister of Science and Technology, Mr Wang Zhigang. In the afternoon, Mr Chui met with the President of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Mr Xie Fuzhan.

When meeting Minister Wang, Mr Chui said he looked forward to extending cooperation with the Ministry of Science and Technology, in order to advance Macao’s overall development in science, technology and innovation.

Such effort would complement the building up of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (Greater Bay Area) into an international innovation and technology hub, as outlined in the Greater Bay Area blueprint set out by the Central Government, he added.

Mr Chui also mentioned Macao’s involvement in the “Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Macao innovation and technology corridor”, an initiative envisaged under the blueprint.

The Chief Executive invited the Ministry to contribute the expertise of its own relevant research units to Macao’s Greater Bay Area effort. This could help Macao set up its own research centre for advancing the international innovation and technology hub envisaged under the Central Government’s blueprint, as well as Macao’s own strategies for science and innovation development.

Mr Chui also briefed Minister Wang on Macao’s ongoing effort in science and technology, which was a priority of the Government, including a recent step to create specific task groups – under Macao’s Working Committee on the Greater Bay Area – to advance innovation, science and technology and smart-city concepts.

Speaking in the morning meeting, Minister Wang said cooperation with Macao in the field of science, technology and innovation would be a highlight of the Ministry’s work, and noted Macao had unique strengths that it could contribute in such collaboration.

Reviewing the Ministry’s cooperation with Macao, Mr Wang said his Ministry had for years spared no effort in promoting closer mainland-Macao cooperation on science, technology and innovation development.

In the afternoon meeting at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the Chief Executive told Mr Xie that the Macao Government hoped to gain further support from the Academy to help nurture a greater number of Macao research professionals; to optimise the research capability of local think tanks; and to enhance the quality of the Government’s policy and research work.

Such steps were aimed at enhancing Macao’s effort regarding the adequate diversification of its economy and in supporting the city’s integration with overall national development, added Mr Chui.

Mr Chui spoke of the existing communication mechanism between Macao and the Academy. It had achieved the goals expected of it: there had been – on a regular basis – exchange of ideas via seminars and themed research.

During the afternoon’s meeting, the Academy’s Mr Xie noted this year would mark the 20th anniversary of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR). As such, it was a good time to expand people-to-people ties and academic exchanges between the SAR and the Academy.

Mr Xie reviewed the Academy’s cooperation with the Macao Government, saying the Academy had conducted research on Macao’s development strategies and on major social topics. In the future, the two sides could further explore the Greater Bay Area initiative, Macao’s positioning in the country’s effort and appropriate development strategies, Mr Xie added.