CHIEF EXECUTIVE VISITS FUJIAN AND GUANGDONG PROVINCE AND DISCUSSES ABOUT PARTICIPATION IN THE “BELT AND ROAD” INITIATIVE

A government delegation led by Chief Executive Chui Sai On visited Fuzhou and Guangzhou from 22 to 24 February. The delegation met leading officials of the two provinces and conducted high-level meeting to discuss about cooperation in participating in the national “Belt and Road” Initiative and promoting the development in various areas.

A Fujian-Macao high-level meeting on the development of the “Belt and Road” Initiative was held on 22 February in Fuzhou city, Fujian Province. Chief Executive Chui Sai On and Governor of Fujian Province Yu Weiguo headed respective government delegations to attend the meeting and gave speeches. Officials from related departments from the two sides exchanged views on the co-operation and planning of commercial and trade investment, competitive industries as well as on “people-to-people bond”.

The Guangdong-Macao high-level meeting on the development of the “Belt and Road” Initiative was held in Guangzhou city, Guangdong Province on 24 February. Chief Executive Chui Sai On and Secretary of CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee Hu Chunhua and Governor of Guangdong Ma Xingrui headed government delegations from the two sides to attend the meeting and gave speeches. The discussion focused mainly on trade and economic investment, people-to-people exchange as well as planning on the co-operation direction and specific arrangement for future collaboration.

Chief Executive Chui Sai On concluded that after pragmatic discussion with the leading officials of Fujian and Guangdong Province, and in accordance with the Central Government’s guidance on the “Belt and Road” Initiative, the co-operation objectives have been identified in collaboration with the two provinces, focusing on the promotion in areas such as trade and economic investment as well as people-to- people exchange. Guangdong, Fujian and Macao aim at effectively working in line with the national strategy and play their respective role in the development of the “Belt and Road” Initiative.

Macao officials accompanying the Chief Executive to Fuzhou and Guangzhou included the Chief-of- Office of the Chief Executive’s Office O Lam, Director of the Government Information Bureau Chan Chi Ping, IPIM’s President Jackson Chang, Director of the Policy Research Office Lao Pun Lap, Director of the Macao Government Tourism Office Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Macau Investment and Development Limited Lu Hong as well as the Acting Director of the Protocol, Public Relations and External Affairs Office Lei Ut Mui.

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BOAO FORUM FOR ASIA ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2017

The Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2017, under the theme “Globalization & Free Trade: The Asian Perspectives”, was held in Boao, Hainan province from 24 to 26 March. The opening ceremony was attended by over 1,700 state leaders, government officials, businessmen and academics from more than 50 countries and regions from around the world.

A keynote speech was given by the Vice Premier of the State Council Zhang Gaoli. He said that, through actively participation in economic globalisation, Asian countries have created the “Asian miracle”, offered “Asian opportunities” and accumulated the “Asian experience”. In pursuing development and reform, we need to keep up with the changes in the world, follow the trend of the times, and foster Asian experience and vision. We need to work together to promote economic globalisation and free trade, and jointly create a community of shared future for Asia and mankind.

The Secretary for Economy and Finance Leong Vai Tac attended the forum and IPIM also organised a delegation of ten to participate in the event with members including IPIM’s President Jackson Chang as well as leaders or representatives of various local business associations.

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DELEGATION OF PPRD PROVINCES AND REGIONS CON DUCT FACT-FINDING VISITS TO BRAZIL AND PORTUGAL

Delegation of “9+2”provinces regions from the Pan-Pearl River Delta Region organized by Macao SAR visited Brazil and Portugal from 5 to 12 March. The delegation focused on the study and exchanges in the areas of environmental protection and watershed management.

On concluding the visit, the head of the delegation, IPIM’s President Jackson Chang said that the visit achieved anticipated results and helped in promoting co-operation in environmental protection between the “9+2” provinces and regions and the Portuguese-speaking Countries (PSCs), as well as further enhancing Macao’s strength as a commercial and trade service platform between China and PSCs.

During the eight-day visit, the delegation visited the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency and gained a better understanding of the investment environment in Brazil and the experience in renewable energy development of converting sugarcane into ethanol. The delegation also visited the headquarters of the Operations and Management Center of the Amazonian Protection System in Brasília and conducted a site visit to the environmental protection project for the Amazon River area. The delegation met officials of the Ministry of Environment of Brazil and the Ministry of the Planning, Budget and Management of Brazil and listened to their briefings on their efforts in environmental protection and related policies. Networking activities were also held in Lisbon, Portugal.

To better respond to the opinions of the representatives of “9+2” provinces and regions and to address specific concerns, apart from organising this fact-finding visit, IPIM also invited related local, Mainland and overseas enterprises to participate in the 2017 Macao International Environmental Co-operation Forum & Exhibition (2017MIECF) to serve as a platform for networking and exchanges.