Xia Baolong had a discussion with representatives of the Australian business community, emphasizing that they should work together to polish the "golden business card" of Australia's international metropolis

On the afternoon of May 14, Xia Baolong, Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the Central Committee for Hong Kong and Macao Affairs and Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, visited the Macao Chamber of Commerce and had a discussion with representatives of entrepreneurs, listening to their opinions and suggestions on Macao's economic development, and having interactive exchanges.

Xia Baolong pointed out that President Xi Jinping attaches great importance to the development of Macao and is very concerned about the well-being of Macao compatriots. The Central Government has always fully and accurately implemented the principle of "One Country, Two Systems", fully implemented the principle of "patriots administering Macao", and fully supported the Chief Executive and the Macao SAR Government in uniting and leading all sectors of society to seize the historical opportunities brought about by the country's development and continuously promote the successful practice of "One Country, Two Systems" with Macao characteristics. Over the past 25 years since its return to the motherland, Macao has achieved leapfrog economic development, maintained long-term social stability, continued to improve residents' lives, complemented each other with diverse cultures, unique urban features, and greatly enhanced its international influence and popularity, and has developed into an international metropolis.

Xia Baolong said that Macao has always been linked by blood and shared weal and woe with the motherland, and has made unique and important contributions in various historical periods of revolution, construction and reform on the mainland, and the industrial and commercial circles of Macao, including the Macao Chamber of Commerce, are an important force in it. Since its return to the motherland, with the full support of the central government, Macao has created the best development situation in history, formed a unique status and advantages with Macao characteristics, and laid a solid foundation for sustainable development.

-- It has the greatest institutional advantage of "one country, two systems". "One country, two systems" is the best institutional arrangement for Macao to maintain long-term prosperity and stability. Macao retains its capitalist system and way of life, while also being able to share in the vast market and development opportunities of the Mainland, and has received strong support from the state. The mainland's super-large market, complete industrial system, complete infrastructure, system and talent advantages are outstanding, and the foundation for development is solid, resilient and bright. Macao is the "pearl in the palm of the hand" of the motherland, and the motherland will always be Macao's strong backing.

-- It has the advantage of sufficient space for development. When Macao returned to the motherland, it was only 21.45 square kilometers, but the central government has repeatedly approved Macao's land reclamation and demarcation of land boundaries, and Macao's land area has increased to 33.3 square kilometers; in 2015, the central government clarified Macao's sea area to 85 square kilometers; in 2021, the central government officially designated Hengqin Island, which is 106.46 square kilometers, as the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone, and Guangdong and Macao have implemented a new management system of extensive consultation, joint construction, joint management and sharing, so that Macao's development space has expanded to 224.76 square kilometers. Macao is no longer a "little Macao", and the space for development has increased more than 10 times that of the handover.

-- It has the advantage of a business environment with a high degree of internationalization. Macao has established stable economic and trade relations with more than 120 countries and regions, is a member of more than 190 international organizations and institutions, and has been granted visa-free or visa-on-arrival treatment to 145 countries and regions. Macao's business environment has been continuously improved, maintaining its status as a separate customs territory and free port, implementing a simple and low tax system, and is one of the world's most open trade and investment economies recognized by the World Trade Organization. Macao has close ties with Portuguese-speaking countries and is an important platform for exchanges and cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries. The establishment of Forum Macao in Macao is the only multilateral cooperation mechanism in mainland China linked by language, covering all countries where Portuguese is the official language, and trade between China and Portuguese-speaking countries has increased by about 20 times since its establishment.

-- It has the advantage of a strong economic foundation. Macau's GDP grew from 51.9 billion patacas in 1999 to 444.5 billion patacas in 2019, maintaining an average annual growth rate of 11%, ranking among the top developed economies. After a smooth transition in epidemic prevention and control, Macao's GDP growth in 2023 will reach 80.5%, ranking fifth in the world in terms of per capita GDP in terms of purchasing power parity, with fiscal reserves of more than MOP580 billion. Last year, the HKSAR Government announced the first plan for moderate economic diversification, clarifying the development direction of the "1+4" industry and injecting new impetus into economic growth. Macao's economy has made a good start this year, with 8.875 million tourists pouring into Macao in the first quarter, and the central government has announced the opening of "individual visits" to Hong Kong and Macao from 10 mainland cities, and more policies and measures to benefit Macao will follow.

——It has the humanistic advantage of a blend of Chinese and Western cultures. Macao has a history of blending Eastern and Western cultures, with diverse religions, rich and diverse languages, diverse architecture, and friendly coexistence of various ethnic groups, reflecting the distinctive characteristics and unique values of Macao's multicultural convergence between China and the West. More than 20 Chinese and Western buildings, including St. Paul's, and the square foreground, are connected to the "Historic Buildings of Macao", which is inscribed on the World Heritage List and has become a beautiful business card of Macao's tourism. The Macau Grand Prix has been held for 70 consecutive years and is widely regarded as one of the best street races in the world. The Macao International Music Festival has been held for 35 years. Macao is home to world-class performance and MICE venues, and is ranked 20th in the Asia-Pacific region as a global international convention city. Macau also has the highest number of Forbes five-star hotels in the world, with 48 Michelin-starred restaurants, and has been named a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy. These are the unique charms of Macao that attract guests from all over the world.

-- It has the traditional emotional advantage of loving the country and Macao. Macao compatriots have always had a patriotic tradition and a strong sense of national identity, belonging and national pride. Since the return to the motherland, the Macao SAR Government has attached great importance to carrying forward the patriotic tradition and firmly implemented the principle of "patriots administering Macao". The national consciousness and patriotic spirit have been deeply rooted in the hearts of young people, and the core values of patriotism and love for Macao occupy a dominant position in Macao society, further promoting social harmony and stability. Macao is one of the safest cities in the world, with a series of policies such as free education, free medical care and two-tier social security benefiting the whole society, with an average life expectancy ranking among the highest in the world, and the level of people's livelihood and well-being constantly improving, and residents' sense of gain, happiness and security becoming stronger and stronger.

Xia Baolong stressed that this year marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China and the 25th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland. Macao stands at a new starting point of development, and everyone should fully support the Chief Executive and the SAR Government in governing in accordance with the law, give better play to Macao's unique status and advantages, promote high-quality economic and social development, and make concerted efforts to polish the "golden business card" of Macao as an international metropolis, and better play Macao's role in the construction of a strong country and national rejuvenation. First, we will make more contributions to promoting the moderate diversification of the economy, focus on the "1+4" diversified development direction determined by the SAR Government, and accelerate the implementation of the development plan for moderate economic diversification. Second, we will make more contributions to the overall development of the country, take the initiative to align with national strategies such as the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and actively support the SAR government to do a good job in the development of Hengqin; Third, Macao will make more contributions to enhancing its international influence, broaden ties with the European Union and Southeast Asian countries, and in particular, strive to enhance the function of the China-Portuguese-speaking Countries Commercial and Trade Co-operation Service Platform, and promote broader and deeper practical co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries; Fourth, we will make more contributions to carrying forward the fine tradition of loving the motherland and Macao, continue to support the development and growth of patriotic forces, further promote the core values of loving the country and Macao, and build social consensus on jointly building Macao.

In conclusion, Xia Baolong said that Macao, standing at a new starting point, is ushering in the best period of construction and development. We firmly believe that with the strong backing of the great motherland and the common efforts of all Macao compatriots, the road to the successful practice of "one country, two systems" with Macao characteristics will surely become broader and broader, and the "Macao" train in the new era will surely run fast and steadily.