The Government’s main goal for next year is to continue promoting social and economic progress while ensuring stability in Macao, said today the Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On.

Mr Chui’s comments were made before his departure to Beijing for a four-day duty visit. While in the capital, the Chief Executive will report to the state leaders on the work of the Macao Government and the policy blueprint for next year.

The Macao Government would also make additional effort to help Macao better integrate its development with the national development aims, making use of the opportunities arising from the country’s reform and opening up policies, Mr Chui added.

In his remarks to reporters at the airport, Mr Chui detailed how Macao had been contributing proactively to a number of the country’s major strategies for regional integration.

Such contributions included Macao’s involvement in: the “Belt and Road” initiative; the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area; and a partnership with Beijing to support the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region.

Mr Chui also mentioned the Jiangsu-Macao Cooperation Park as part of Macao’s contributions to promote regional cooperation, namely that for the Yangtze River Economic Zone. Mr Chui completed on Thursday (13 December) a two-day visit to Jiangsu Province to get an update and insight into the progress regarding the Cooperation Park’s planning and construction.

Macao and Jiangsu authorities were currently awaiting approval from central authorities on the overall planning for the Cooperation Park, said Mr Chui.

With strong support from the Central Government, Macao would continue optimising its competiveness and pursuing sustainable development – namely by taking part in several national initiatives to promote coordinated regional cooperation – so to create further development opportunities for all, especially young people.

In other remarks, Mr Chui reiterated his commitment to the policy of allowing only Macao residents to be table games dealers in casinos. The policy had not been – and would not be – changed during his term as Chief Executive, he stressed.

Mr Chui noted it was normal for representatives from different sectors of society to voice their respective opinions on a wide range of topics during the meetings of the Macao Government’s Economic Development Council. He added that the Macao Government always paid attention to such comments, carefully analysing the opinions from all members of the advisory body.

Officials accompanying Mr Chui on the duty visit to the capital include: the Chief-of-Office of the Chief Executive's Office, Ms O Lam; the Director of the SAR Government Information Bureau, Mr Chan Chi Ping; and the Director of the Protocol, Public Relations and External Affairs Office, Ms Lei Ut Mui.

Mr Chui will return to Macao on Tuesday (18 December). While the Chief Executive is in Beijing, the Secretary for Administration and Justice, Ms Chan Hoi Fan, takes the role of Acting Chief Executive.