SASAC & NDRC chiefs pledge continued support
Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng on Sunday met with the leading officials from the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council (SASAC) and the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) to discuss Macao’s economic diversification strategy and the Guangdong-Macao Intensive Cooperation Zone (GMICZ) planned on Hengqin island, according to a statement by the Macau Government Information Bureau (GCS).
Both the SASAC and NDRC chiefs pledged their continued support for Macao’s ongoing effort to diversify its economy that – as is generally known – is excessively dependent on the gaming industry.
Ho will return today after a six-day working visit to Beijing. He met with Hao Peng, chairman and party committee secretary of the SASAC, on Sunday morning.
During the meeting, the two officials exchanged views on how state-owned enterprises (SOEs) – in particular centrally-administered SOEs – are supporting Macao’s economic development. They also discussed the role such enterprises can have in contributing to Macao’s effort to advance the establishment of the GMICZ.
Ho pointed out that Macao has been stepping up its effort to make progress on strategies aiming to promote its adequate economic diversification and advancing the GMICZ development. He added that Macao was looking forward to additional assistance from the SASAC regarding promotion of its traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) sector, and the development of infrastructure projects.
Strong support from SOEs
According to the statement, the chief executive noted that SOEs in Macao have strongly supported the local government’s anti-COVID-19 measures since the outbreak of the epidemic.
Hao praised Macao’s effort in stemming the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, stressing the SASAC’s commitment to ensuring enough supply of healthcare and medical materials to the city.
Hao said the SASAC would support the establishment of the GMICZ, as well as projects that could enhance Macao’s public services, infrastructure, and people’s well-being. He also said the SASAC could make available internship opportunities at its organisation for young people from Macao, contributing to enhance their professional competitiveness.
Hao also said that the two sides could work even closer to strengthen cooperation between China and the Portuguese-speaking countries, by making use of Macao’s platform role and the city’s links with the Portuguese-speaking countries.
In a separate meeting held in the afternoon, Ho met with NDRC Chairman He Lifeng.
Ho thanks NDRC chairman for guidance
Ho expressed his appreciation for He’s guidance on the development path for Macao and Hengqin, and the development direction for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA).
Ho told the NCRC chairman that, during a series of meetings over the past few days in Beijing with officials from various entities of the central government, the local government had received positive feedback and strong support for the development of the GMICZ in Hengqin.
Ho also said the impact from the COVID-19 pandemic had brought to light the problems brought about by the city’s over-reliance on a single economic sector. Ho said the predicament had further reinforced his government’s determination to press ahead with policies promoting the city’s economic diversification.
The gaming industry generated over half of Macao’s GDP and more than three-quarters of the government’s current income, according to official data.
According to the statement, He said he was pleased with Macao’s ability to contain the further spread of COVID-19. That, he said, was a result of Macao – under Ho’s leadership – standing united in the fight against the pandemic. The NDRC chairman also noted that the Macao government has launched a string of special measures, namely offering financial support to local residents, and helping businesses to gradually resume operations in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis.
The NCRC would continue to press ahead – in a pragmatic way – with specific measures to boost the joint development of Macao and Hengqin, in order to introduce new dynamics to Macao’s long-term development, He said.
President Xi Jinping paid great attention to Macao’s socio-economic development, and has given directives to assist Macao in pushing ahead with its adequate economic diversification drive, He pointed out.
(The Macau Post Daily/Macau News)
PHOTO © Government Information Bureau (GCS)
