The Chief Executive, Mr Ho Iat Seng, met in Guangzhou with officials of Guangdong Province, to discuss respectively, joint effort for COVID-19 prevention and control, promotion of development of the Guangdong-Macao Intensive Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, and acceleration of effort relating to development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (Greater Bay Area).

Mr Ho took part in a meeting on Saturday (9 January) with the Secretary of the Guangdong Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), Mr Li Xi, and the Governor of Guangdong, Mr Ma Xingrui.

The officials agreed that the two places should remain highly vigilant regarding the development of the pandemic; and dedicate utmost effort to controlling jointly the prevention of the spread of the virus, while striving to boost economic recovery and pressing ahead with work for the betterment of people’s livelihoods.

Mr Ho is on a four-day tour to Guangdong cities that are within the Greater Bay Area. The Macao delegation left Macao on Friday (8 January), and has so far visited Zhongshan, Jiangmen, Zhaoqing, Foshan, and Guangzhou.

While in Guangzhou, the Macao delegation visited a pharmaceutical firm, which is the largest-single herb-production company in southern China. Mr Ho received a briefing on the latest developments within the company, and its involvement in the Guangdong-Macao cooperation framework.

During the meeting with Guangdong Province officials, Mr Ho expressed his gratitude to Guangdong for supporting Macao in the fight against the pandemic, and for helping Macao maintain its connection with the mainland amid the pandemic. Guangdong had not only provided strong assistance in relation to epidemic control, healthcare, and the stability of Macao’s food supply; but also had offered enormous support in terms of the resumption – since July – of the flow of people from Guangdong able to travel to Macao under the facilitated individual travel scheme, Mr Ho said. Guangdong had also helped members of the Macao public to travel quarantine-free to the mainland, he added.

Macao was a safe city in terms of risk from COVID-19, and had recorded zero local cases for more than 286 consecutive days. The Macao SAR Government would not relax its epidemic-control effort, despite the success of its steps so far. The Macao SAR Government would bolster its effort in relation to economic recovery and diversification, and would step up investment in infrastructure in order to protect the employment prospects of Macao people.

Regarding the Guangdong-Macao Intensive Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, the Chief Executive noted a basic framework for the initiative was ready. He called for further concerted effort in order to introduce relevant policies in a timely manner.

The Chief Executive also talked about his current tour to cities within the Greater Bay Area, and how the tour was seeking to define a path for Macao to contribute further to the Greater Bay Area. Thanks to the support of each city so far visited, the tour had already been productive, and had offered inspirational ideas, he added.

During Mr Ho’s meeting with Guangdong Province officials, Secretary Li said he looked forward to extending Guangdong-Macao cooperation. Further effort should be made to: optimise existing mechanisms and connections; advance development of the Intensive Cooperation Zone in Hengqin; introduce a greater number of policies and measures that favour people moving between the two places either to work or to live; promote further exchange among young people; and strengthen joint prevention and control work regarding the pandemic.

Mr Li stated that Guangdong was steadfast in implementing policies and aspirations outlined by President Xi Jinping in a speech delivered at the gathering to mark the 40th anniversary of Shenzhen as a special economic zone; as well as instructions given by the President in speeches he made during a recent visit to Guangdong. Mr Li noted President Xi paid great attention to the Greater Bay Area, as well as to Guangdong-Macao cooperation, and had issued multiple important directives concerning Hengqin’s development, and the ties between Zhuhai and Macao.

Guangdong would spare no effort to support the Macao Chief Executive’s efforts at, respectively: lawful governance; adequate diversification of Macao’s economy; and advancement of the Greater Bay Area; all in order to observe better the “One country, two systems” principle. Such steps would help Guangdong contribute to the common development of the mainland, Hong Kong and Macao.

Macao officials attending the meeting in Guangzhou 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; the Director of the Macao Government Tourism Office, Ms Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes; the Director of the Macao Economic Bureau, Mr Tai Kin Ip; the Director of the Protocol, Public Relations and External Affairs Office, Ms Lei Ut Mui; the President of the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute, Mr Lau Wai Meng; and the Director of the Government Information Bureau, Ms Chan Lou.