The 2017 Mainland-Macao Chambers of Commerce Joint Meeting was held in Macao on October 18. Vice Chairman of China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) Zhang Wei attended and addressed the meeting.

Zhang Wei hailed the closer economic and trade ties between Chinese mainland and Macao, as well as the deepened economic integration as the advancement of the “Belt and Road” construction, the full implementation of service trade agreement under the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) between Chinese mainland and Macao, and the initiation of the construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

“The trade promotion agencies of both sides are in need of the Mainland-Macao Chambers of Commerce Joint Meeting to further explore potentials and lift the cooperation level. They will foster cooperation in exhibition industry, implementation of Chinese Central Government’s favorable policies for Macao, exploration of markets in Portuguese-speaking countries and assisting Macao enterprises to be engaged in the ‘Belt and Road’ Initiative and the construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area to diversify Macao’s economy,” added Zhang.

Jackson Chang, President of Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM), senior leaders from Macao Chamber of Commerce, Industrial Association of Macao, and Macao Importers and Exporters Association agreed that the construction projects by favor of the “Belt and Road” Initiative and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area project have provided opportunities for the economic development of Macao. The business community in Macao will fully participate in these projects, giving full play to Macao’s advantages in finance and traditional Chinese medicine industry to have close connections with the Portuguese-speaking countries. Macao will contribute to boosting economic and trade cooperation with Southeast Asia and the Portuguese-speaking countries to the best of its ability.

It is the first time that provincial and municipal-level trade promotion agencies have been invited to the Joint Meeting. Delegates from Jiangsu Province, the city of Harbin and Shantou said they will advocate local enterprises to cooperate with their Macao partners, contributing to Macao’s development.

Initiated in 2004, Mainland-Macao Chambers of Commerce Joint Meeting is dedicated to promote exchanges and experience-sharing for the business community between Chinese mainland and Macao. The appeals for enterprises of the Chinese mainland and Macao are listened at the Joint Meeting.