CE calls on ASEAN Secretary-General during Jakarta visit
MACAU, September 2 - The Chief Executive, Mr Sam Hou Fai, paid a visit on Wednesday (2 September) to the Secretariat of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and held a meeting with the Secretary-General of ASEAN, Mr Kao Kim Hourn, in Jakarta, Indonesia.
The Chief Executive expressed his gratitude to ASEAN for supporting its member countries in strengthening exchanges and cooperation with Macao over the years.
Mr Sam noted that strategic mutual trust between China and ASEAN has continued to strengthen, cooperation in various fields has deepened, and the ASEAN-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership has maintained a good momentum in its development under the strategic guidance of the leaders of China and ASEAN member countries. China strongly supports the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area in becoming a new point of growth for cooperation with ASEAN, he added.
The Chief Executive pledged that Macao, as an important part of the Greater Bay Area, would actively strengthen close ties and pragmatic cooperation with ASEAN member countries, jointly contributing to sustainable development, prosperity, and regional stability.
During the meeting, Mr Sam also outlined the latest developments in Macao and in the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin. He also explained the opportunities presented by the Third Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development of the Macao Special Administrative Region (MSAR) (2026-230), which is closely aligned with China’s 15th Five-Year Plan. He called for governments of ASEAN member countries to encourage businesses to make good use of the Macao-Hengqin platform, to connect the vast markets of Southeast Asia with the Chinese mainland, and share the fruits of regional coordinated development.
Mr Sam also noted that Macao has long maintained close exchanges with ASEAN member countries, and a large number of overseas Chinese from Southeast Asia reside in Macao, serving as a bridge connecting Macao and Southeast Asia in terms of culture and trade. ASEAN countries are also a major source of international tourists for Macao, accounting for a significant proportion of international visitors.
He expressed hope that the ASEAN Secretariat would support its member states in making good use respectively, of their historical and cultural ties with Macao; the resources and role of Macao's returned overseas Chinese; and the channels of business associations. This would promote exchanges and cooperation characterised by mutual exchange of tourists; economic and trade cooperation; industrial integration; cultural integration; and mutual learning among civilisations.
The Chief Executive also pointed out that Macao enjoys institutional advantages when it comes to participating in multilateral international cooperation. He expressed hope that, with the authorisation of the Central Government and the support and assistance of the ASEAN Secretariat, Macao can join relevant China-ASEAN cooperation mechanisms in an appropriate capacity and participate in relevant activities hosted by ASEAN.
Mr Kao extended a warm welcome to the MSAR Government delegation led by Mr Sam.
Mr Kao noted this year marks the fifth anniversary of the establishment of the China-ASEAN Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The Chief Executive's ongoing visit to several ASEAN member countries, in order to strengthen friendly ties, is of great significance, he noted.
Mr Kao added that the positioning of Macao as "One Centre, One Platform, and One Base" demonstrates the Chinese Central Government’s strong support for deepening exchanges and cooperation between Macao and ASEAN. In recent years, Macao has recorded encouraging and impressive inbound-visitor figures, while the number of foreign tourists visiting ASEAN countries has reached 120 million, indicating enormous potential for further strengthening tourism cooperation. ASEAN is also committed to promoting the development of e-commerce, and firmly believes that its member states and Macao can work together to complement their respective advantages, strengthening cooperation in investment, trade, tourism and cultural exchanges, he said.
ASEAN can encourage businesses from both sides to make good use of trade matching and tourism and convention platforms to expand cooperation opportunities, said Mr Kao. The ASEAN Secretariat is willing to maintain close contact with the MSAR Government to discuss further exchanges and cooperation, he added.
Those present at the meeting included: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary and Head of Mission of the People’s Republic of China to ASEAN, Mr Wang Qing; Macao’s Secretary for Economy and Finance, Ms Ng Wai Han; the Chief-of-Office of the Chief Executive’s Office, Ms Chan Kak; the Director of the Macao Government Tourism Office, Ms Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes; the President of Macao’s Cultural Affairs Bureau, Ms Leong Wai Man; the President of the Board of Directors of Macao’s Commerce and Investment Promotion Institute, Mr Che Weng Keong; and Director of the External Relation Directorate of the Political-Security Community Department of the ASEAN Secretariat, Mr Bala Kumar Palaniappan.
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