The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, is to lead an official delegation to Shenzhen from 7 to 8 January to attend the 2012 Shenzhen-Macao Co-operation Meeting, according to a statement by the Office of the Government Spokesperson.

This is the annual meeting for 2012 between the two cities, which has been postponed to early next week.

Mr Chui is scheduled to meet with the Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Shenzhen Municipal Committee Mr Wang Rong, and Mayor of Shenzhen Mr Xu Qin, and exchange views on extending co-operation and exchanges in various areas.

Co-operation with Shenzhen, under the Guangdong-Macao Co-operation Framework Agreement, is an integral part of Macao’s effort for regional co-operation.

In the meeting, officials from Macao and Shenzhen are scheduled to sign memorandums and agreements on co-operation in different areas, including the regulation and inspection of medicine, inspection techniques, inspection of frozen poultry, as well as education.

Members of Mr Chui’s delegation include the Secretary for Economy and Finance, Mr Tam Pak Yuen; the Chief-of-Cabinet of the Office of the Chief Executive, Mr Tam Chon Weng; the Secretary-General of the Executive Council, Ms Wallis O Lam, and the Director of the Government Information Bureau, Mr Chan Chi Ping.

The Secretary for Administration and Justice, Ms Florinda Chan, will be Acting Chief Executive while Mr Chui is away.