The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, today said a mechanism for establishment of a joint conference – as outlined in an agreement due to be signed with the National Development and Reform Commission – would lead to strengthened coordination between Macao and the central authorities regarding tasks relating to Macao’s contributions to the country’s “Belt and Road” initiative.

Mr Chui made the comments prior to his departure for meetings in Beijing. While he is in the capital, the “Arrangement between the National Development and Reform Commission and the Government of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) for Advancing Macao’s Full Participation in and Contribution to the Belt and Road Initiative”, is due to be signed.

The Chief Executive stated, when speaking to reporters at the airport, that the Central Government had approved the establishment of a joint conference mechanism between Macao, the Commission and other competent ministries and departments. The mechanism aimed to advance Macao’s full participation in, and contribution to, the “Belt and Road” initiative.

As soon as the Arrangement was signed, the SAR Government and the Commission would hold a joint conference in order to press ahead with matters relating to Macao’s participation in the “Belt and Road” initiative, said Mr Chui. The initiative encompasses the concepts of the “Silk Road Economic Belt” and the “21st-Century Maritime Silk Road”.

In his comments to the media, Mr Chui reviewed the SAR Government’s efforts at enhancing Macao’s contributions to the development of the “Belt and Road” initiative. They included the setting up of the Working Committee for the Development of the “Belt and Road” Initiative; and a visit to Cambodia and Thailand in May by an SAR Government delegation, with the aim of establishing respective friendly relations with those countries.

Mr Chui additionally pointed out in his Wednesday remarks that closer cooperation with Guangdong Province and Fujian Province – concerning joint contributions to the “Belt and Road” initiative and under the guidance of the Central Government – would help reinforce Macao’s inherent advantages. These included the city’s strong network of returned overseas Chinese, its robust tourism and leisure industries, and Macao’s close ties with Portuguese-speaking countries.

Officials accompanying Mr Chui in the two-day visit to Beijing include: the Secretary for Administration and Justice, Ms Chan Hoi Fan; the Chief-of-Office of the Chief Executive’s Office, Ms O Lam; the Director of the Government Information Bureau, Mr Chan Chi Ping; the Director of the Protocol, Public Relations and External Affairs Office, Ms Lei Ut Mui; the Director of the Policy Research and Regional Development Bureau, Mr Mi Jian; Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Monetary Authority of Macao, Mr Chan Sau San; the Director of the Macao Government Tourism Office, Ms Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes; the President of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, Ms Mok Ian Ian; and the Acting President of the Administrative Committee of the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute, Mr Irene Va Kuan Lau.

While Mr Chui is away from Macao, the Secretary for Economy and Finance, Mr Leong Vai Tac, is taking the role of Acting Chief Executive.