Guangdong – Macao Trade and Investment Information Section

Guangdong -Macao Joint Co-operation Conference held in Zhuhai
The 2008 Guangdong-Macao Joint Co-operation Conference was held on 4 December in Zhuhai. Mr Edmund Ho Hau Wah, Chief Executive of Macao SAR, Mr. Huang Huahua, Governor of Guangdong Province headed delegations from their respective areas and also gave thematic speeches. Mr. Francis Tam Pak Yuen, Secretary for Economy and Finance and Mr. Wan Qingliang,Vice Governor of Guangdong Province, gave a review on the achievements made by the Guangdong-Macao Joint Co-operation Conference over the past year. The Conference was also attended by Mr.Zhou Bo, Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs office of the State Council and Ms.Gao Yan, Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in Macao.

Expanding the scope of co-operation
Guangdong and Macao leaders expressed the hope that both regions would further strengthen co-operation in various major areas including people’s livelihood, service industry, economy and trade,infrastructure facilities and social culture while seeking to improve the levels of such cooperation.In the area of people’s livelihood, efforts will be made in strengthening existing and sophisticated mechanisms and foster co-operation in the safety of food and water supplies, the stability of the electricity supply and environmental protection. In the service industry, economy and trade, Macao SAR Government will capitalise on the benefits brought about by CEPA,promote complementary development and co-operation in the convention and exhibition sector,tourism, logistics, Chinese medicine and cultural industries. Macao will strive to fully utilise its role as a service platform for China and Portuguese-speaking countries and assist entrepreneurs in Guangdong province and Macao to explore markets overseas.

As in the area of infrastructure facilities, Macao will actively encourage co-operation between areas, accelerating the expansion of the Barrier Gate Frontier Checkpoint Building to be in line with the improvements made at the Hengqin border. The Government will also participate in the construction of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and further promote the development of Hengqin Island, thus providing favourable conditions for the effective linking of the Pearl River Delta inter-city railway network, Tai Ao Expressway with Macao’s city railway and road networks.

The signing of eight agreements
After the Conference, Guangdong and Macao signed eight co-operation agreements, namely the Agreement between Guangdong and Macao on the Promotion of Education Exchange and Co-operation, Agreement between Guangdong and Macao on Culture, Agreement between Guangdong and Macao on the Joint Promotion of Chinese Medicinal Industry, Memorandum between Guangdong and Macao on the Establishment of the Zhuhai-Macao Task Force, Framework Agreement on Guangdong-Macao Urban Planning, Agreement between Guangdong and Macao
on Tourism, Agreement between Guangdong and Macao on Sports Exchange and the Agreement between Guangdong and Macao on Emergency Management.

Chief Executive Edmund Ho Hau Wah and Governor Huang Huahua witness the signing of the eight co-operation agreements
Photo: Macao Government Information Bureau (GCS)