Chief Executive (CE) Chui Sai On announced Tuesday that he will run for re-election later this year.
He made the announcement at the local airport before departing for Beijing to attend the opening of this year’s session of 12th National People’s Congress (NPC), when he was asked whether he was interested in serving another five-year term.
Chui reflected on his work as chief executive for the past four years, saying he had accomplished some of the things he had set out to do while he had other things that he had still to fulfil. His current term expires at midnight on December 19.
“So I know that everybody wants to know whether I am interested or not in standing in the chief executive election. Let me be honest with you. Yes, I am, but we need to follow the procedures…” said Chui, who did not elaborate on when exactly he will officially announce his candidacy for re-election.
Chui insisted he would not discuss the subject with central government officials during his short stay in Beijing.
The chief executive election by a 400-member committee is expected to be held in the summer. Chui’s re-election is seen as a fait accompli, The Macau Post Daily said. The chief executive can serve a maximum of two consecutive five-year terms.
Instead, the chief executive said he would meet Guangdong officials while in Beijing to discuss several topics, namely on establishing a free-trade zone with the adjacent province and round-the-clock border crossing services at the Macau-Zhuhai Barrier Gate checkpoint.
Chui added he would discuss with central government officials the prospect of having local broadcaster TDM airing in the mainland, commenting that mainlanders would be able to become more familiar with Macau ’s society and culture if this becomes reality.
Meanwhile, Chui and his entourage met Guangdong party chief Hu Chunhua and governor Zhu Xiaodan in Beijing Tuesday.
According to a statement by the Macau Government Information Bureau (GCS), both sides vowed to further strengthen bilateral co-operation.
Chui is slated to return to Macau at the weekend.(macaunews)
