The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, said today cultural development was an important feature for the overall development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

He added that a shared cultural identity was an important common denominator to address challenges associated with the “one country, two systems, three separate customs territories” background, in order to ensure the sustainable development of the Greater Bay Area.

Mr Chui’s comments were made in a speech delivered at today’s opening ceremony of the International Forum on "Culture Mission of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area". The International Forum is a two-day event held in city by the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) Government.

In his speech, Mr Chui stated that Macao’s unique culture – influenced by centuries of exchanges between Chinese and Western culture – played an important role in the cultural development of the Greater Bay Area. He added that Macao’s cultural background – from commerce to folk customs, religion, the role played by associations, and philanthropy – had distinctive Chinese characteristics, coupled with international influences.

The city’s unique culture had led to the “Historic Centre of Macao” being inscribed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in its World Heritage List. Macao’s intangible cultural heritage was also recognised at a national level, added Mr Chui.

He pointed out that Macao’s cultural elements would be a further source of ‘soft power’ for the Greater Bay Area, while contributing to close cultural exchanges and people-to-people links under the “Belt and Road” initiative.

Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao would work closely to develop complementing cultural resources, in order to create conditions for enriching the cultural life of those living in the Greater Bay Area, said Mr Chui.

The Chief Executive noted that the outline development plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area mentioned a goal to position Macao as a multicultural exchange and cooperation base with an emphasis on Chinese culture. Such goal provided new impetus for Macao to press ahead with contributing to the development of the Greater Bay Area, he added.

Other guests delivering speeches at today’s opening ceremony were the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong SAR, Mrs Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor; the Governor of Guangdong Province, Mr Ma Xingrui; and the President of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Mr Xie Fuzhan.

The International Forum gathered approximately 400 guests and scholars in Macao. During the event, some 60 experts and scholars will share the results of their respective work relating to cultural matters.

A total of three sessions are scheduled for tomorrow (13 August) as part of the International Forum. The sessions will cover the following topics: history, literature, philosophy – the destiny of humanity and cultural charm; politics, law – cultural tradition and social progress; and society and technology – the culture of development and the construction of the Greater Bay Area.