Watched over by Vice President, Mr Xi Jinping, the Chief Executive Mr Chui Sai On and the Governor of Guangdong Mr Huang Huahua today signed the Guangdong-Macao Co-operation Framework Agreement in the Great Hall of People in Beijing.

In a speech after the signing, Mr Chui said the sealing of the agreement exemplified the correctness and vitality of the principle of ‘One Country, Two Systems’ and showcased the Central Government’s support and reflected the desire of Macao and Guangdong for closer partnership.

According to the articles of the agreement, Macao and Guangdong would co-ordinate development of industries, fully maximise opportunities on Hengqin island and study the feasibility of sharing social and public services.

With the support of the Central Government, the spirits of the agreement are included in the Twelfth Five-year Plan, and the Macao SAR Government is confident and determined to co-ordinate with the plan and implement the agreement, Mr Chui said.

The Government would set up a cross-departmental working group to push forward the implementation of the agreement.

Mr Chui expressed Macao’s gratitude to the Central Government, related ministries and commissions and the Guangdong authorities.

In his speech, Mr Huang said the agreement marked a new landmark for Guangdong-Macao co-operation and would accelerate co-operation between the province and Macao.

The signing ceremony was marked by the attendance of the member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and State Councilor, Ms Liu Yandong, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and the Secretary of the CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee, Mr Wang Yang, Vice President of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), Mr Liao Hui and Mr Ho Hau Wah, the Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Mr Wang Guangya, the Director of the Liaison Office of the Central Government in the Macao SAR, Mr Bai Zhijian, the Deputy Secretary-General of the State Council, Mr Bi Jingquan, and a number of Macao and Guangdong officials.

In a meet-the-press session after the signing ceremony, Mr Chui said Macao would work with Guangdong in setting up a Chinese medicine industrial zone in a five square kilometre industrial park on Hengqin and would consider the building of a zone for creative industry.

In the next five years, Macao and Guangdong would work together and jointly develop Hengqin and Nansha of Guangzhou, he said.

Mr Chui met the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and the Secretary of the CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee, Mr Wang Yang, after the ceremony. They exchanged views on enhancing co-operation between Guangdong and Macao.