The Brazilian Government’s efforts in managing its water resources and its strategy for developing such resources, are reference points for Macao’s management of its 85-square-kilometres of waters.

On Wednesday (8 March) a delegation – from the “9+2” provinces and special administrative regions (SARs) that make up the Pan-Pearl River Delta (PPRD) Region – was on a visit to Manaus, Brazil, in order to gain a better understanding regarding the management of the Amazon River area and environmental protection projects relating to the area.

The tour was part of an eight-day trip to Brazil and Portugal – from 5 to 12 March – which has been organised by the Macao SAR Government. It is an additional step in the efforts to diversify trade and economic cooperation between mainland China, Portuguese-speaking countries and Macao. It also aims to enhance Macao’s strategic positioning as a commercial and trade cooperation service platform between China and Portuguese-speaking countries.

On Wednesday in Manaus, the Chinese delegation was briefed on, respectively: the progress of improvement work for the Rio Negro, a tributary of the Amazon River; legislation for the protection of water resources; and the geological resources and forests in the area and how to harness those resources.

The head of the delegation, the President of the Administrative Committee of the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute, Mr Cheong Chou Weng, spoke highly of the efforts of the authorities in Manaus to maintain the pace of economic activity while also protecting the ecological resources of Brazil.

The Chinese Government paid great attention to environmental protection and the development of green business sectors, while at the same time maintaining stable economic growth, he said.

The delegation also visited the Manaus Free Trade Zone to gain a better understanding of its development and its tax policies. The Deputy Director of the Planning and Development Office of the Zone, Mr Marcelo Souza Pereira, said he hoped a greater number of environmental companies, particularly from the PPRD Region, could establish business in the zone, making use of its low- or zero-tax policies in order to drive the development of green industries.

After the stop in Manaus, the delegation left for Portugal. While in that country, the delegation will meet representatives of environmental-sector companies from Portugal and China, in order to gain a better understanding of the latest sectorial developments.

The Chinese delegation has more than 50 members, The group includes: representatives from the National Development and Reform Commission; members of an environmental science association based in Sichuan Province; representatives from the Office of the Secretary for Economy and Finance of Macao; representatives from the Guangdong Provincial Development and Reform Commission; and members of governmental environment departments, and other related public departments from the provinces and SARs of the PPRD Region.

The PPRD Region comprises: the mainland provinces of Fujian; Jiangxi; Hunan; Guangdong; Guangxi; Hainan; Sichuan; Guizhou; Yunnan; along with the Hong Kong SAR; and the Macao SAR.