Macau, Guangdong to sign high level agreement

Alexis Tam: ‘Deepen the cooperation between Guangdong and Macau at all levels.’

Macau SAR and Guangdong Province are preparing a framework agreement for cooperation, which aims to raise the level of the relations between the two regions in eight different areas, the spokesman for the Macau Government, Alexis Tam, announced yesterday.
During his trip to Beijing to attend the opening ceremony of the 11th National People’s Congress, the Chief Executive Fernando Chui Sai On met with Hong Kong Chief Executive, Donald Tsang, and the secretary of Guangdong Communist Party Committee, Wang Yang, to discuss further opportunities for bilateral cooperation.
The framework agreement should speed up previous plans for the development of the Pearl River Delta Region, as well as “deepen the cooperation between Guangdong and Macau at all levels,” Alexis Tam said.
A taskforce including officials from both parties have already begun drafting the agreement. According to the spokesman, it should be finished within this year so that it can be included in the 12th Five-Year Plan of the People’s Republic of China.
In order to deepen the opportunities of cooperation, the special taskforce will set up eight groups for specialized studies in charge of drawing up the policies. It will also include members from both regions.
Each group will have a different field of study: general policies, studies aimed to present the objectives, principles and cooperation mechanisms; construction of infrastructures, mainly regarding transportation, information, energy and urban networks for water and electricity supply; cooperation for industries development: quality of life, to deal with social affairs, to strengthen the training of human resources, etc; judicial cooperation; building a business environment; to jointly boost the development of Hengqin Island; and to create new means of cooperation.

Hong Kong is next

The framework aims to promote the proper diversification of Macau’s economy and strengthen the complementarity between Macau and Guangdong for the joint use of their industrial benefits for mutual development; to encourage the cooperation in convention and exhibition, tourism, culture, education, etc.; to enhance the socio-economic integration of Macau and Guangdong, in improving quality of life of the population; and take the lead to explore new forms and policies for regional cooperation, seeking the support and recognition of the country.
In April, the specialised studies group will meet to discuss the issues of the negotiations and ask opinions from scholar and other entities. Also in April or May, officials from Macau and Hong Kong will start talks for signing a similar agreement.
“We expect a similar agreement with Hong Kong to be signed as well. However this joint project has a completely different nature, as Hong Kong is also ruled by the principle ‘One country, two systems’. Unlike the Guangdong Government, it is more flexible to negotiate with Hong Kong, because we can do it directly, while any agreement with Guangdong requires the Central Government’s approval,” Alexis Tam explained.
Alexis Tam assured there will be no duplication of duties of existing agreements between Macau and Guangdong – for instance, the two taskforces under the office of the secretary for Public Works and Transportation Lau Si Io.
He said the two Governments have already signed several agreements but this particular one is set on a higher level and will cover all the issues and areas of cooperation.
“There won’t be conflicts with previous agreements. This framework has an integrated nature and is set to cover eight different areas of cooperation. Besides, it will be signed by the Chief Executive and the Provincial authorities,” he stressed.