The Chief Executive, Mr Ho Iat Seng, discussed with members of Japan’s parliament, on how to facilitate economic and trade cooperation and people-to-people exchange between Macao and Japan, and how to step up support for Japanese businesses to take part in the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Guangdong-Macao Intensive Cooperation Zone.

A video conference was held on Monday (21 September) at the Government Headquarters between the Government of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) and representatives of a Japanese parliamentarians’ union for friendship between Japan, Macao and other cities covered in the Greater Bay Area initiative.

The Chief Executive gave a briefing on the incessant effort of the Macao SAR Government in pressing ahead with the Greater Bay Area initiative, saying he was pleased to see more involvement from Japan business sector in the city-cluster initiative.  

Mr Ho also mentioned Macao’s unremitting effort into the Guangdong-Macao Intensive Cooperation Zone planned in the island of Hengqin, Zhuhai, and Macao’s progress over the citywide 5G network with a view to advance smart city development.

Speaking in the meeting was the president of the union, Mr Takeo Kawamura, who is a member of Japan’s House of Representatives and former chief cabinet secretary of the Japanese Government.

The union, set up in 17 June, has the secretary-general of the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan, Mr Toshihiro Nikai, as its principal advisor and an aggregate of 25 members of Japan’s parliament, Mr Kawamura said.  The union was established with an aim to act as a bridge between Macao and Japan and ultimately promote dialogue between China and Japan through communication between Macao and Japan via the union.

Mr Kawamura expressed his respect to the effective epidemic-control strategy implemented by the Macao SAR under the leadership of Mr Ho.

In the meeting, the Chief Executive extended his congratulation on behalf of the Macao SAR Government on the election victory of Mr Yoshihide Suga as the new Prime Minister of Japan. He also expressed his wish for successful containment of COVID-19 in Japan, so the two sides could resume normal exchange of economic and trade matters, and people-to-people exchange.

Macao, as an open international city, has developed long-term and close relations with regard to cultural exchange and trade ties respectively with Japan and other Asian countries, Mr Ho noted. He added he looked forward to enhancing exchange and economic cooperation.

Other topics discussed during Monday’s video conference included industrial diversification, talent development, food culture, importation to Macao of Japanese agricultural products, smart city development, application of low carbon and new energy technology, and development of traditional Chinese medicine.

Macao officials attending the meeting included: the Secretary for Economy and Finance, Mr Lei Wai Nong; the Chief-of-Office of the Chief Executive’s Office, Ms Hoi Lai Fong; and the Chief of Office of the Secretary for Economy and Finance, Ms Ku Mei Leng.

Attendees of the Japanese parliamentarians’ union for friendship between Japan, Macao and other cities covered in the Greater Bay Area initiative included: vice president of the union, Mr Ito Yoshiyaka (who is also a member of the House of Representatives and former Vice-Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries); special advisor to the union, Ms Katayama Satsuki (who is also a member of the House of Councillors and former Minister of State for Special Missions); and acting chairman of the union, Mr Miyaichi Hideki (who is a member of the House of Representatives).