NDRC and Macao SAR government convene third meeting of joint conference of supporting Macao's full participation in and contribution to BRI

Source: Department of Regional Opening-up / Updated: 2021-12-30

On the afternoon of December 28, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and the government of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) convened the third meeting of the joint conference of supporting Macao's full participation in and contribution to the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Ning Jizhe, Vice Chairman of the NDRC, and Lei Wai Nong, Secretary for Economy and Finance of the Macao SAR government, attended and addressed the conference.

Ning Jizhe said, faced with changes and a pandemic both unseen in a century, Macao, as a special administrative region practicing "One Country, Two Systems", has the enormous strengths and glorious mission of contributing to and participating in the BRI. The 14th Five-Year Plan has made it clear that the central government will support Macao in participating in and facilitating the country's endeavor to open up fully and develop a modern economic system and build a functional platform for the joint pursuit of the BRI. Going forward, Macao should leverage its strengths, and make new outcomes in Belt and Road cooperation with Portuguese-speaking countries; locate its roles and make new contributions to advancing the stable and sustained joint pursuit of the BRI; seize opportunities to make new accomplishments in fostering a new development paradigm, and deliver more tangible cooperation outcomes. Xu Jianping, who is from the Joint Conference Office and is Director of the Department of Regional Openness of the NDRC, briefed the support of relevant departments under the central government for Macao's participation in and contribution to the BRI.The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Education, the People's Bank of China, the General Administration of Customs, the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and China Export & Credit Insurance Corporation responded to the related appeals of the Macao SAR government, and came up with comments and suggestions on future work.

Lei Wai Nong said, this year marks the first year of the 14th Five-Year Plan and a vital year for Macao to integrate into the nation's development and seek new-round development. Macao will actively align its development with the national 14th Five-Year Plan, and it will capitalize on its strengths to serve the country's needs, and actively participate in and contribute to the BRI in the process of developing itself into a world-class tourism and leisure center, a commerce and trade cooperation service platform between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, and a base for exchange and cooperation where Chinese culture is the mainstream and diverse cultures coexist. Cheong Chok Man, Director of Policy Research and Regional Development Bureau of Macao, concluded Macao's participation in the BRI in the past year; relevant officials of Macao SAR government reported the current work, future work, and related appeals in relevant fields.

Relevant personnel from the NDRC, the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the People's Bank of China, the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council, the General Administration of Customs, China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission, China Securities Regulatory Commission, the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China Development Bank, China Export & Credit Insurance Corporation, the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Macao SAR, the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the Macao Special Administrative Region as well as Macao's Secretariat for Administration and Justice, Secretariat for Economy and Finance, Secretariat for Security, Secretariat for Social Affairs and Culture, Secretariat for Transportation and Public Works, and Policy Research and Regional Development Bureau attended the meeting.