SG Shi Zhongjun Meets the MFA Commissioner of China in Macao

On 3 April, Secretary General Shi Zhongjun of the ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) met with Commissioner Liu Xianfa of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China in the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) during his trip to Macao, exchanging views on enhancing economic and trade cooperation between ASEAN and the Macao SAR, and supporting the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA).

Secretary General Shi stressed that ASEAN and Macao enjoy complementary strengths in such fields as financing services, culture, tourism and exhibition economy, which could guarantee a promising future for their mutual cooperation. The ACC stands ready to bring into full play its role as a connecting platform, work with the Commissioner Office to further promote Macao’s position as "one center, one platform and one base", and help ASEAN and the GBA tap opportunities of cooperation in trade, investment, culture, tourism and other areas so as to bring forth tangible benefits to the peoples on both sides.

Commissioner Liu Xianfa extended a warm welcome to the ACC delegation. He briefed the visiting delegation on Macao’s efforts in achieving economic diversification and the latest progress in the building of Guangdong-Macao In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin. He also stressed that Macao enjoys the advantage of “one country, two systems” and boasts competitive edge in tourism, medicare, high tech and innovation industries. ASEAN Member States (AMS) and Macao have developed close economic and cultural ties, which could be turned into broader prospects of future cooperation. The Commissioner Office stands ready to work with the ACC to render continued support to Macao towards securing economic diversification as well as an all-round and high-quality cooperation between ASEAN and China through involving and integrating Macao's contribution to the synergized process of ASEAN-GBA practical cooperation.

On the same day, Secretary General Shi also had meetings with government officials and business representatives in the Macao SAR.