Xia Baolong discusses trade war and economic diversification with local officials

Beijing’s top official for Hong Kong and Macau affairs, Xia Baolong, met with local officials and lawmakers yesterday to discuss the potential impact of the Sino-US trade war and the ongoing efforts to diversify Macau’s economy.

According to delegates to the National People’s Congress (NPC) who attended a seminar with Xia, the director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office (HKMAO) acknowledged the global implications of the continuing tariff conflict between China and the United States.

NPC delegate Domonic Sio quoted Xia as saying that the trade war is likely to persist and could significantly affect the global economy.

“The director told us that the tariff war will likely continue for a period of time, having a major impact on the entire world,” Sio told reporters, as cited in media reports.

“He said it’ll certainly be painful. We may not know how long the pain will last, but we all have to face it, that’s for sure.”

Meanwhile, the official praised the current Macau government’s leadership during his ongoing inspection tour, emphasizing the need for unity and collaboration among all sectors of society to navigate the inevitable crises within today’s complex environment, while expressing optimism for a bright future.

Xia arrived in Macau via Hengqin Port on Friday for a six-day inspection tour.

Over the past few days, he has engaged with several government officials and held rounds of talks with representatives of various patriotic local associations.

Notably, he met with three former chief executives – Ho Hau Wah, vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC); Chui Sai On; and Ho Iat Seng, who recently concluded his term in office.

According to a statement by the Government Information Bureau (GCS) on Friday, Xia took the lead in meeting with the current Chief Executive, Sam Hou Fai, during which he conveyed the central government’s affirmation of the new Special Administrative Region (SAR) government’s good start.

He said, as stated, “The Chief Executive, alongside the new SAR government team, has effectively implemented the important speeches delivered by President Xi Jinping during his inspection tour of Macau [in December last year], as well as the decisions and plans of the central government, marking a promising start.”

This trip marks Xia’s third inspection visit to Macau, which is scheduled to conclude tomorrow.

Earlier this year, in early February, the top Beijing official spent two days in the Guangdong-Macau In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, where he met with Secretary for Administration and Justice André Cheong Weng Chon and Secretary for Economy and Finance Anton Tai Kin Ip to advance the integrated development of Macau and Hengqin.

Speaking to the media, Cheong quoted Xia as pointing out the importance of the development of the cooperation zone for Macau’s appropriate economic diversification, stating, “Everyone should regard the development of Hengqin as their own responsibility.”

He also urged all sectors of Macau society to keep this issue at the forefront of their minds and remain aware of potential risks.

In response, Cheong told the media about his commitment to increase investment in human resources and other areas to advance the development of the cooperation zone.

Similarly, after meeting with Xia, Ung Si Meng, a former local deputy to the NPC, shared Xia’s remarks with the media. He noted that Xia referred to Hengqin as Macau’s “backyard,” emphasizing that it should be developed to benefit Macau’s overall development.

Other members of society who met with Xia included Liu Chak Wan, a former Macau member of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference. Liu quoted the top Chinese government official as saying that the SAR government’s initial efforts had garnered support from Macau residents.

However, he also reminded them of the importance of staying vigilant and the necessity of developing new industries.

Yesterday, Xia continued his meetings with local NPC deputies and CPPCC members, along with all members of the Legislative Assembly. According to reports, Xia reiterated the importance of the integrated development of Hengqin and Macau, highlighting the significance of the Cooperation Zone in supporting Macau’s appropriate economic diversification.