The deputy director of the United Front Work Department (UFWD) of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, Tan Tianxing, Monday stressed the importance of Macau’s integration into the nation’s development, according to a statement released by the Macau Government Information Bureau (GCS).
Tan made the remarks in a meeting with Chief Executive Fernando Chui Sai On before the opening ceremony of the Macau Global Media Industry Development Conference 2018 at the Macau Fisherman’s Wharf Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Tan was quoted as saying in the GCS statement that Macau’s national development integration should be based on the special administrative region’s own characteristics and the training of qualified human resources.
Tan, who holds the rank of a vice-minister, also underlined the important of creativity and innovation for Macau’s integration into the nation’s development, namely concerning its participation in the implementation of the central government’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the setting-up of the Greater Bay Area (GBA).
Apart from Macau, the central government’s GBA project also includes Guangdong and Hong Kong.
Tan also said his department would continue to keep close in contact with the local government and the special administrative region’s overseas Chinese community.
Scholars estimated that returned overseas Chinese and their local-born offspring account for about one-fifth of the local population.
According to the GCS statement, Tan praised the local government for its work in line with the central government’s policy guidelines. He was also quoted as saying that Macau’s development prospects are “formidable”.
According to the statement, Chui pointed out during the meeting that it is the third time that the Macau Global Media Industry Development Conference has been co-hosted by Macao Daily News and China News Service (CNS).
CNS is the nation’s second-largest state-owned wire service, after Xinhua. It serves mainly overseas Chinese and residents of Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau.
The two-day conference was “Belt and Road Initiative and Media Creative Cooperation and Development”.
Apart from Chui, Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in Macau Director Zheng Xiaosong and Legislative Assembly President Ho Iat Seng also attended the conference. GCS Director Victor Chan Chi Ping attended the conference.
Chui also underlined the importance of Macau’s overseas Chinese community for the special administrative region’s external relations. He also said his government would continue to welcome foreign investment in Macau and promote investment by Macau businesses abroad.
According to a March 19 document by the central authorities, the United Front Work Department has absorbed the State Administration of Religious Affairs and the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office.
The department also oversees the work of the State Ethnic Affairs Commission. Consequently, the department has become the central authorities’ main entity overseeing ethnic, religious and overseas Chinese affairs.
