The Chief Executive, Mr Ho Iat Seng, today said he looked forward to deepening ties between Macao and Shenzhen, including strengthening pragmatic cooperation in scientific-technology and innovation-related sectors, in education, and cultural and creative industries.

Mr Ho made the remark while in Shenzhen, during a meeting with Deputy Secretary of the Guangdong Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and Secretary of the CPC Shenzhen Municipal Committee, Mr Wang Weizhong.

During the meeting with Mr Wang, Mr Ho stated Macao and Shenzhen had developed close ties in a number of sectors, and should work even more closely, in order to press ahead with cooperation on other topics. Specific suggestions mentioned by Mr Ho included stepping up collaboration in education; boosting cooperation in commercialisation of scientific research, as Shenzhen had enterprises that could put to practical use research achievements of Macao universities. Mr Ho also said the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) Government was keen to see a proposal for consolidation of laboratory resources available in universities within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (Greater Bay Area), so Macao could share its resources from its four State Key Laboratories.

The Chief Executive also talked about Macao’s policies in relation to traditional Chinese medicine. The Macao SAR Government was striving to enable Macao-registered traditional Chinese medicine products to go on sale within the Greater Bay Area and beyond. Macao’s unique platform roles would help Shenzhen enterprises to establish links with Portuguese-speaking countries, Mr Ho said.

Shenzhen had a robust sector in relation to the cultural and creative fields, Mr Ho noted. Macao sought to propel growth in its tourism and cultural and creative industries. This provided scope for cooperation with Shenzhen, Mr Ho said.

The Chief Executive additionally thanked Shenzhen for its support during the COVID-19 pandemic. Macao was a safe city in terms of risk from COVID-19, and had recorded zero local cases for more than 280 consecutive days. Nonetheless, the Macao SAR Government would not relax its effort in epidemic prevention and control. Macao would step up work for recovery of normal social life, and of the economy, while facilitating adequate economic diversification.

During today’s meeting, Secretary Wang said the two cities had achieved notable cooperation in the past in relation to scientific technology, medical services, and cultural affairs, and he hoped there would be further exchanges and cooperation projects with international level.

Shenzhen wished to make better use of Macao’s unique advantages, in order to advance pragmatic cooperation in modern services and scientific technology, as well as development of innovation-related sectors. Additionally, Macao’s strategic position as a commercial and trade cooperation service platform between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, would help Shenzhen further its exchanges and cooperation with those countries, Mr Wang added.

Secretary Wang mentioned Shenzhen was dedicating utmost effort to working in line with aspirations outlined by President Xi Jinping in a speech delivered at the gathering to mark the 40th anniversary of Shenzhen as a special economic zone. Shenzhen was also closely observing the country’s "dual circulation" development pattern, in which the domestic economic cycle plays a leading role, while the international economic cycle remains its extension and supplement.

Macao officials attending the meeting in Shenzhen included: the Secretary for Economy and Finance, Mr Lei Wai Nong; the Chief-of-Office of the Chief Executive’s Office, Ms Hoi Lai Fong; the Director of the Macao Government Tourism Office, Ms Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes; the Director of the Macao Economic Bureau, Mr Tai Kin Ip; the Director of the Protocol, Public Relations and External Affairs Office, Ms Lei Ut Mui; the President of the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute, Mr Lau Wai Meng; and the Director of the Government Information Bureau, Ms Chan Lou.

While in Shenzhen, Mr Ho paid a visit to an Internet-platform -based company, to the Shenzhen Stock Exchange, and to the headquarters of an information and communications technology company.

Shenzhen was the ultimate stop for Mr Ho during his four-day tour of some Guangdong Province cities within the Greater Bay Area. The Macao delegation returned to Macao in the evening.