Macau, Sichuan create mechanism for closer ties

Macau and Sichuan Province agreed on Friday the creation of a mechanism to encourage closer governmental ties and expand existing cooperation, according to a statement from the MSAR government.

The agreement was made during a meeting between the two local governments at the Government Headquarters in Macau.

During the same meeting, representatives of the two sides also signed a memorandum summarizing the topic discussed during the meeting and area for future collaboration.

The two documents from the meeting were signed by Macau’s Secretary for Economy and Finance Lionel Leong and Sichuan’s Vice Governor Li Yunze.

Macau Chief Executive Chui Sai On, who witnessed the signing of the documents, suggested ways to further ties between Macau and Sichuan in future.

Among his suggestions was to boost mutual promotion of the two area’s gastronomic and tourist sectors. Both the Macau SAR and Chengdu in Sichuan Province have been selected as UNESCO Creative Cities of Gastronomy under the UNESCO Creative Cities Network.

Chui also highlighted education, healthcare, youth affairs, financial services and science and technology as other areas for potential cooperation.

Prior to the cooperation conference between the two regions, Chui held a separate meeting with the Secretary of the Sichuan Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China, Peng Qinghua. According to the government, the two officials exchanged views on issues of mutual interest.