The Chief Executive, Mr Ho Iat Seng, met with leading Guangzhou officials to exchange view on epidemic-prevention and -control work, as well as deepen cooperation on financial, education and medical services.

The Chief Executive’s meeting took place in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, on Thursday (14 October), prior to the opening of the 130th China Import and Export Fair, known as Canton Fair, which is being hosted by the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China, and the Government of Guangdong, and organised by the China Foreign Trade Centre.

During the Fair’s opening ceremony, the Premier of the State Council, Mr Li Keqiang, delivered a keynote speech.

While in Guangzhou, Mr Ho has met with member of the Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Guangdong Provincial Committee and Secretary of the CPC Guangzhou Municipal Committee, Mr Zhang Shuofu; and Deputy Secretary of the CPC Guangzhou Municipal Committee and Mayor of Guangzhou, Mr Wen Guohui.

The Chief Executive thanked the officials for Guangzhou’s long-term support for the development of Macao. Mr Ho said Guangzhou was a prominent gateway for the country and a transport hub, and added that Macao and Guangzhou enjoyed huge potential for cooperation.

Mr Ho pointed out that Macao had stepped up effort to seize unprecedented opportunities available from the Guangdong-Macao In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, and also to accelerate Macao’s adequate economic diversification. Macao looked forward to working even more closely with Guangzhou, in order to serve the country’s strategic needs, while strengthening innovation in cooperative mechanisms, in order to extend ties in science and technological innovation, traditional Chinese medicine, social welfare, and high-level opening up.

Speaking in the meeting, Mr Zhang said Guangzhou was advancing its ties with Macao, in accordance with important speeches and instructions from President Xi Jinping; in particular, in promotion of high-level opening up, via opportunities created under the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and the Cooperation Zone in Hengqin.

Guangzhou and Macao enjoyed a sound foundation for cooperation. The two sides should make further effort to normalise and simplify cooperation mechanisms; and foster cooperation and exchange in financial services, education, healthcare, innovation relating to opportunities for young people, and entrepreneurship, added Mr Zhang.

In the meeting, the officials from the two sides also discussed establishing a mechanism for regular meetings, in order to press ahead with closer and pragmatic cooperation.

Other Macao officials present in the Guangzhou meeting were: the Director of the Government Information Bureau, Ms Chan Lou; and Deputy Director of the Government Headquarters Affairs Bureau, Ms Lei Ut Mui.

The Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the Guangdong Government, Mr Li Huanchun; and Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the Guangdong Government, Mr Huang Duanlian, attended the meeting.