Chief of Office of the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture of the Macao Special Administrative Region Government, Ho Ioc San, led a delegation from Macao to participate in the 5^th Global Mazu Culture Forum (“the Forum”) and the 22^nd China·Putian Meizhou Mazu Cultural Tourism Festival on Meizhou Island in Putian, Fujian Province.

The delegates from Macao include Director of Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO), Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, Advisor of Office of the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Stella Leong, Head of Destination Marketing Department of MGTO, Betty Fok, and Head of the Division for Research and Planning of the Department of Cultural Heritage of Cultural Affairs Bureau, Sou Kin Meng, among others.

This edition of the Forum was held under the theme of “Mazu culture and community with a shared future for mankind” on 1 November. The Forum was jointly organized by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People’s Republic of China, Ministry of Natural Resources of the People’s Republic of China, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang, Macao SAR Government and Fujian Provincial People’s Government. Vice Chairperson of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and Executive Vice Chairman of the Central Committee of the Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang, Zheng Jianbang, inaugurated the Forum. At the opening ceremony, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People’s Republic of China, Zhang Xu, Chief Engineer and Director General of Department of International Cooperation of the Ministry of Natural Resources of the People’s Republic of China, Zhang Zhanhai, Vice President of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and President of Chinese Academy of History, Gao Xiang, as well as Vice Governor of the Fujian Provincial People’s Government, Zheng Jianmin, delivered remarks respectively while Chief of Office of the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture of the Macao SAR Government, Ho Ioc San, was invited to give a speech at the opening ceremony.

In her speech, Ho Ioc San remarked that at the invitation of the Fujian Provincial People’s Government, the Macao SAR Government has joined other organizers to hold the Global Mazu Culture Forum since 2017. Because of that, Fujian and Macao have taken a huge step forward in terms of cultural exchange. She pointed out that Mazu culture is one of the shared major cultural identities for Chinese population around the world and a significant bridge that connects with overseas Chinese and residents in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao. The Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area has clearly proposed Macao’s development into an “exchange and cooperation base where Chinese culture prevails and different cultures flourish in harmony”. Fujian Province is the starting point of the ancient Maritime Silk Road and a pivotal region of the Maritime Silk Road in the 21^st century, while Macao is also a key hub along the Maritime Silk Road. Fujian and Macao can join hands to actively participate in the Belt and Road development, to dedicate great efforts and contribute to the national development.

In contrast with the past editions, the 5^th Global Mazu Culture Forum featured a synergy of online and offline activities to extend the far-reaching coverage and impact of Mazu culture across time and space. In addition, pandemic prevention measures were carried out to ensure the event was held safely. The event program of this year encompassed the Global Mazu Culture Forum and the China·Putian Meizhou Mazu Cultural Tourism Festival as the two major highlights, as well as supporting activities including the 6^th International Seminar on Mazu Culture, 2020 Mazu Culture & Tourism International Communication Forum, and Putian’s Presentation of Projects Open to Investment and Contract Signing.