Macao’s Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng will be in Beijing from today until Wednesday, attending the second session of the 14th National People’s Congress (NPC), the Macau Post Daily reports. The Secretary for Administration and Justice, André Cheong, is acting as Chief Executive while Ho is away.
Ho and a number of Macao deputies will also attend the second session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), which is happening in Beijing today. The NPC and CPPCC meetings are jointly referred to as the “two sessions.”
Deputies spoken to by the media at the airport yesterday noted a number of focus areas they hoped to discuss at the CPPCC meeting.
These ranged from the smooth running of Hengqin’s new autonomous customs zone to the feasibility of granting special sports and medical tourism visas for Macao. The sports visas relate to the government’s plan to transform Macao into an international sporting hub, requiring ease of movement on the part of athletes, support staff, and event organisers.
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At the NPC, meanwhile, the country’s 2024 economic goals will be “among the most anticipated announcements” at the event, according to the State Council Information Office (SCIO). These tend to cover targets for gross domestic product, inflation and foreign trade, among others.
“New productive forces” – described by SCIO as an emerging factor in China’s policymaking – are also expected to be on the table. The phrase refers to “sci-tech breakthroughs and innovation that drive strategic emerging industries and future industries,” it noted.
Plans to open the country up further, via the likes of easing restrictions on foreign investment, and making it easier for foreign nationals to visit China, will also be discussed, alongside key areas of reform, from property rights to competition and market access.
Macao has 12 NPC deputies and 38 CPPCC National Committee members.
