CE calls on Malaysia’s Prime Minister and Minister of Finance
MACAU, September 4 - The Chief Executive, Mr Sam Hou Fai, today called on Malaysia’s Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Mr Anwar Ibrahim, in the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur. They exchanged views on enhancing cooperation between Macao and Malaysia in multiple fields, including economic matters, trade, tourism and culture.
The two officials expressed hope that the visit to Malaysia by the Macao Special Administrative Region (MSAR) delegation would provide an opportunity to strengthen mutual trust and connectivity further, opening up broader scope for collaboration.
The Chief Executive, leading an MSAR delegation, arrived in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday evening (2 September), following stops in Singapore and the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, as part of an eight-day official visit to the three Southeast Asian countries.
During today’s meeting, Mr Sam expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister and the Malaysian Government for their support and assistance in facilitating the MSAR delegation’s visit. Since China and Malaysia established diplomatic relations, the two countries have developed steadily, with deeper practical cooperation and stronger people-to-people exchanges, he noted.
President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Malaysia last year marked a joint commitment to building a high-level strategic China-Malaysia community with a shared future. Macao stands ready to work with Malaysia to implement the important consensus reached by the two countries’ leaders, strengthen alignment on macro policies and industrial development, and expand mutually beneficial cooperation across various sectors, Mr Sam stated.
The Chief Executive provided Prime Minister Anwar with an overview of Macao’s achievements made under the “One country, two systems” principle. Those outcomes demonstrate the strong vitality and institutional advantages of “One country, two systems” principle. The underlying values of peace, inclusiveness, openness and shared growth it embodies are well worth jointly safeguarding.
He highlighted that, although Macao is limited in land area, it benefited from access to the vast markets of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Chinese mainland, while enjoying the unique advantages of domestic and external connections.
Macao is advancing its “1+4” strategy for appropriate economic diversification, supported by the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin as a strategic hinterland. These factors are creating unprecedented development opportunities, Mr Sam said.
Malaysia is a key partner for Macao as the city deepens its economic, trade and people-to-people ties with Southeast Asia. Mr Sam welcomed more Malaysian enterprises to establish or expand operations in Macao and Hengqin, and to use Macao as a platform for connecting with the markets of the Chinese mainland and Portuguese-speaking countries, thereby broadening and deepening cooperation.
The Chief Executive added that Malaysia was an important source of international visitors to Macao. The MSAR Government is actively making Macao’s tourism environment more Muslim-friendly and hoped that tourism-related industries in both places can establish closer communication channels. With regular air services operating between the two places, tourism cooperation is expected to reach a new level, he said.
In addition, the MSAR Government is actively advancing the development of Macao’s International Integrated Tourism and Cultural Zone. Mr Sam invited Malaysian cultural institutions and performing arts groups to participate in the project and jointly promote cultural and tourism development.
Mr Sam stated that the negotiation of the China- the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Free Trade Area (CAFTA) 3.0 Upgrade Protocol had been successfully concluded, which held significant importance for further enhancing trade relations between China and ASEAN, and offers important implications for Macao.
The Chief Executive suggested Macao and Malaysia should consider establishing a free trade agreement and an agreement to eliminate double taxation, in order to create a more favourable environment for economic and trade exchanges and investment cooperation.
Prime Minister Anwar welcomed Mr Sam’s visit to Malaysia with a delegation of government officials and business leaders to explore deeper Malaysia-Macao cooperation. He also commended Macao’s achievements in economic development and social governance.
Mr Anwar affirmed the proposal to explore the negotiation of a free trade agreement and an agreement to eliminate double taxation between Malaysia and Macao, noting that such initiatives would help deepen economic and trade cooperation and promote two-way investment between the two regions on a sustained basis.
The two governments should promote stronger industry-level collaboration in healthcare, education, technology and tourism, the Prime Minister said. Malaysia would continue to leverage its strategic location to help Macao advance its connections and exchanges with ASEAN, he added.
During the meeting, the two sides also reflected on the historical ties and cultural exchanges between Macao and Malaysia. Looking ahead, Mr Sam and Mr Anwar shared the view that there was broad scope for cooperation and significant potential for growth.
Also present at the meeting were: the Chinese Ambassador to Malaysia, Mr Ouyang Yujing; Macao’s Secretary for Economy and Finance, Ms Ng Wai Han; and the Chief-of-Office of the Chief Executive’s Office, Ms Chan Kak.
Malaysia’s officials attending the meeting included: Deputy Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, Mr Sim Tze Tzin; the Principal Private Secretary to the Prime Minister, Mr Shahrol Anuwar Sarman; and Deputy Secretary General of Bilateral Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia, Mr Syed Mohamad Hasrin Tengku Hussin.
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