The Chief Executive, Mr Ho Iat Seng, has met with officials from Guangdong Province to exchange views on, respectively: extending Guangdong-Macao ties; accelerating effort on the Guangdong-Macao Intensive Cooperation Zone planned for the island of Hengqin; and the resumption of normal cross-boundary travel.

Mr Ho visited Guangzhou in Guangdong on Tuesday (2 June) to meet with the Secretary of the Guangdong Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China, Mr Li Xi; and the Governor of Guangdong, Mr Ma Xingrui. The Chief Executive returned to Macao after the meeting.

During the meeting, Mr Ho noted Macao and Guangdong had long-standing close relations. He added he was looking forward to linking with Guangdong to advance development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (Greater Bay Area).

Mr Ho said Macao would foster effort alongside Guangdong in the development of the Guangdong-Macao Intensive Cooperation Zone on Hengqin as a pilot zone under the “One country, two systems” framework and as a new platform for high-standard international economic cooperation.

The Chief Executive also briefed the Guangdong officials on Macao’s effort to counter COVID-19, noting the disease had been controlled in the city. The Government of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) had been paying close attention to developments regarding the associated novel coronavirus, and attached the utmost importance to epidemic-control work in order to prevent COVID-19 spreading within the city or beyond.

The two sides at the meeting also discussed further cooperation on epidemic-control work and arrangements aimed to facilitate cross-boundary travel in the context of the COVID-19 situation. The officials shared a belief that resumption of normal cross-boundary movement would be beneficial to the development of the Greater Bay Area. 

During Tuesday’s meeting, Mr Li said Guangdong would work further to deepen cooperation with Macao, in particular regarding the Guangdong-Macao Intensive Cooperation Zone on Hengqin, and thereby contribute to pressing ahead with Greater Bay Area development.

Mr Li additionally said the Guangdong Government would adhere to the aspirations and directives for Macao set out in December by President Xi Jinping, and would act in line with the “One country, two systems” principle regarding cooperation with Macao.

He also said Guangdong would work closely with Macao in order to achieve further progress on a number of freshly-arising issues, including work relating to the prevention or if necessary control of COVID-19.