As the Hainan Free Trade Port initiates island-wide customs clearance and the Hengqin Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone advances into its second phase, both regions face unprecedented opportunities to implement the directives of the recent “Two Sessions” and leverage the upcoming national 15th Five-Year Plan.
The Chief Executive attended the Boao Forum in Hainan yesterday and today. His itinerary included a welcome dinner on Wednesday and the plenary session this morning, where he listened to a keynote speech by Zhao Leji, Chairman of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee.
Yesterday evening, Sam Hou Fai held a bilateral meeting with Hainan Provincial Party Committee Secretary Feng Fei and Governor Liu Xiaoming. During the meeting, he expressed gratitude for the hospitality and highlighted the strong, long-term foundation of Macao-Hainan relations.
The Chief Executive emphasised that both Macau and Hainan serve as vital windows for the country’s opening-up. He noted Hainan’s significant achievements in institutional innovation and internationalisation, while highlighting Macau’s active alignment with the national 15th Five-Year Plan and the SAR’s 3rd Five-Year Plan under the “One Country, Two Systems” principle.
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“Macau will strive to build a new pattern of internal and external connectivity, serving as a precise connector between the nation and Portuguese- and Spanish-speaking countries,” Sam Hou Fai said. He added that this strategic role would assist more mainland enterprises in expanding globally.
The bilateral meeting was also attended by Bian Lixin, Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Macau SAR, and Chan Kak, Chief of Office of the Chief Executive. Hainan officials present included Executive Vice Governor Bater, United Front Work Department Head Yin Libo, and Development and Reform Commission Director Qi Shuli.
Moving forward, Macau and Hainan plan to continuously deepen their collaboration to jointly expand into international markets, further contributing to the country’s high-level opening-up strategy.
