The International Conference on Belt and Road and Macao’s Development, jointly organised by the Policy Research Office of the Government of the Macao Special Administrative Region, the Macao Foundation and the Grand Thought Think Tank, will be held from 8 to 9 June, 2017 at the Convention Hall of the Macao Science Center. Upholding the Silk Road Spirit represented by “peace and cooperation, openness and inclusiveness, mutual learning and mutual benefit”, the Conference aims to seek social consensus and explore how to better plan and accelerate Macao’s participation in and support to the construction of the Belt and Road, and how to achieve a win-win outcome -- contributing to the country and developing Macao herself, with the consideration of “what the country needs, what Macao is good at”.

Under the theme of Belt and Road and Macao’s Development, the event will provide an exchange platform for attendees to have in-depth discussions in four sessions covering different topics namely “Constructing the Belt and Road Initiative with Provinces of Guangdong and Fujian”, “The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Southeast Asia and the ‘Maritime Silk Road’”, “Constructing the Belt and Road Initiative with Portuguese-speaking Countries” and “Assisting the Belt and Road Initiative through Social Exchange and Connections”. Former top ranking officials from countries such as China, Portugal, Thailand, Brazil, etc., domestic and international business leaders, leaders of overseas Chinese communities, experts and scholars in relevant areas from the Mainland, the Hong Kong SAR and overseas, and several local representatives will deliver speeches.

The Conference is a constructive attempt collaborated by the Macao SAR Government and a private think tank to conduct academic discussions. It fully demonstrates the Macao SAR Government’s determination to unite forces from different circles such as the business and academic ones to actively participate in the construction of the Belt and Road initiated by China. It also demonstrates the active response of the private think tank to the Government’s strategy and its willingness to join efforts in building the country and the Macao SAR.

Actively participating in and supporting the construction of the Belt and Road is Macao’s crucial strategy in riding on the country’s “fast train” of economic growth. It has been incorporated into the Five-year Development Plan of the Macao Special Administration Region (2016-2020); it is also a strategy by which Macao can cope with the 13th National Five-Year Plan. Macao is to develop by involving herself in the Belt and Road Initiative and by better leveraging her unique advantages, thus enhancing her position and role in the process of the country’s economic development and opening up to the world.

The upcoming International Conference on Belt and Road and Macao’s Development has attracted earnest attention of the local community. Through this event, the organisers expect to raise the local people’s awareness of the Belt and Road and their sense of participation in it, encourage them to involve in setting a path for the future development of Macao along which, the SAR will achieve greater success and embrace a better tomorrow by taking part in the Belt and Road Initiative

To further promote social awareness of the relationship between the construction of the Belt and Road and Macao, and the SAR’s participation in and support to the Belt and Road Initiative, a photo exhibition entitled “Macao’s Participation in and Support of the Belt & Road Initiative”, which is hosted by the Macao SAR Government, will also be staged on the opening day of the Conference.

（Source: Policy Research Office of the Government of the Macao SAR, Macao Foundation and Grand Thought Think Tank）