The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, today called for the Macao public to make further contributions to the development of the “Belt and Road” initiative, saying it would be a fresh driving force for boosting socio-economic development and social well-being in Macao.

Delivering his speech on the opening ceremony of the “International Conference on Belt and Road and Macao’s Development”, Mr Chui said Macao had entered a new phase of development. With the joint effort of the community, the Government was confident of its ability to seize opportunities available worldwide and perform further roles relating to the country’s “Belt and Road” initiative.

Macao’s steadfast adherence to the “One country, two systems” principle, as well as to the principle of “Macao people governing Macao” and the city’s enjoyment of a high degree of autonomy, had contributed to Macao’s ongoing steady economic development and social harmony. These factors had laid a solid foundation for making further contributions to the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st-century Maritime Silk Road (collectively known as the “Belt and Road” initiative).

Mr Chui pointed out that the city’s unique advantages included close relations with places covered by the initiative; particularly for facilitation of trade, boosting of cultural exchanges, and promotion of people-to-people links.

Macao had been identified as a key centre of the Maritime Silk Road and had developed close relations with places covered by the Silk Road Economic Belt, said Mr Chui.

The Chief Executive also stated that the recent “Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation”, held in Beijing, had set a clear example of how to build international consensus on development and how to identify further cooperation opportunities.

Mr Chui said the “International Conference on Belt and Road and Macao’s Development” provided an opportunity to discuss strategy and the path for the city to support and participate in the “Belt and Road” initiative.

Concluding his remarks, Mr Chui extended an invitation to overseas guests to visit Macao more often, so as to explore further the opportunities for complementary development.

Prior to the opening ceremony, Mr Chui and guests toured a photography exhibition to gain a better understanding of Macao’s participation in and support of the “Belt and Road” initiative.

The “International Conference on Belt and Road and Macao’s Development” is hosted by the Policy Research Office of the Government of the Macao Special Administrative Region; Macao Foundation; and the Grand Thought Think Tank. The two-day event concludes tomorrow (9 June).