CE pledges greater support to advance Hengqin development

Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai, who chairs the Administrative Committee of the Guangdong-Macao In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, visited the zone to hold a working meeting on “implementing the spirit of the national ‘Two Sessions’ and promoting high-quality development,” pledging continued support from Macau for Hengqin.

The Government Information Bureau (GCS) issued a statement Friday regarding the working meeting convened by Sam, noting that during the meeting he encouraged the zone’s administrative committee and its subordinate bodies to further improve their work in Hengqin.

In particular, he reportedly emphasized the need to “translate development opportunities into concrete policy measures,” in line with the first key point of the National 15th Five-Year Plan Outline: “deepening the integrated development of Hengqin and Macau.”

As stated, the Chief Executive said the region’s third Five-Year Plan will be released and implemented this year, and that advancing the cooperation zone with the aim of integrating Hengqin and Macau is a core element of the plan.

He urged the zone’s Administrative Committee and subordinate bodies to view their work within the broader national development context, build on Hengqin and Macau’s specific conditions and advantages, and adopt innovative yet pragmatic approaches to translate development opportunities into concrete actions. He also set out four guiding points, including upholding integrity in governance and maintaining clean administration.

“Every instruction and directive from President Xi provides clear guidance for Hengqin’s development and Macau’s future,” Sam reportedly stressed, adding that they “must be repeatedly studied, deeply internalized, and resolutely implemented, and translated into concrete actions.”

According to the GCS statement, he called for earnest implementation of the spirit of Xi’s important speeches and instructions, effective execution of this year’s work plan, and advancement of the cooperation zone’s second-stage development through central government policies and initiatives for Hengqin.

Sam said, as noted, landmark projects should continue to drive industrial growth and job creation, and Macau should fully leverage its international links to expand the cooperation zone’s global investment promotion.