Leong highlights Macau’s role in Greater Bay Area plan

The Secretary for Economy and Finance, Lionel Leong, said yesterday that the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area will create further opportunities for Macau to advance ties with regional partners, integrate itself into the national development, and achieve long-term stability and prosperity.

Leong was speaking during the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area session at the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2018 in Hainan Province. Others attending the session included the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Carrie Lam, and the Governor of Guangdong Province, Ma Xingrui.

In his speech, Leong pointed out that Macau’s contribution to the Greater Bay Area will adhere to the principle of “serving the country’s needs, delivering Macau’s strengths.”

The Secretary said Macau brings advantages to the Greater Bay Area development strategy, such as “Macau’s strong network of overseas Chinese, particularly in terms of their links with either the mainland, Portuguese-speaking countries, European countries other than Portugal, or member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.”

The Secretary stressed that the Macau government will work with other cities in the Greater Bay Area in order to improve facility connectivity and efficiency regarding customs clearance, and to enhance overall social well-being.