The Chief Executive, Mr Ho Iat Seng, today met with the President of Fudan University, Mr Xu Ningsheng, to exchange views on how to step up Macao’s talent-cultivation effort, and bolster exchange between tertiary-education institutions in Macao and Shanghai.

The meeting was held in Shanghai. Mr Ho had arrived in the city on Thursday (3 June), for a four-day visit.

The Chief Executive said the COVID-19 pandemic had illustrated the need for Macao to diversify the structure of its economy. Macao was advancing four major sectors for its economic development: healthcare, financial services, science and technology, and culture. To support such a vision, Macao needed a great number of local talented people, he said. Fudan University was one of the key higher-education institutions on the mainland, and had long been a cradle for nurturing talent, thereby supporting national-development needs. Noting a number of Macao students were currently studying at Fudan University, Mr Ho said he hoped the university would continue to support Macao in nurturing a greater number of talented individuals for the purposes of Macao’s economic development.

Mr Ho also gave an update on Macao’s epidemic-control effort, saying the city had not recorded any community-originating COVID-19 case for more than 433 consecutive days. That had been achieved with the support from the Central Government, and the joint effort of the local community. Macao was a healthy and safe, and a quality destination for tourists, he added.

The President of Fudan University, Mr Xu, said during the meeting, that Macao played a significant role in national development; in terms of being positioned as a key city within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area initiative; and as a platform in the “dual-circulation” development pattern for the country’s economy. Macao’s effort regarding accelerating development of the Guangdong-Macao Intensive Cooperation Zone in Hengqin; along with Macao’s proactive participation in the “domestic-circulation” portion of the country’s dual-circulation policy, would ensure innovation with regards to the “One country, two systems” principle with Macao characteristics, added Mr Xu. 

Mr Xu also stated that the Chief Executive’s visit to Fudan University, at the time of “Macao Week in Shanghai”, and in the context of the Shanghai-Macao Cooperation Conference, showed the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) Government placed great importance on bilateral ties. These factors marked a major milestone for the two sides’ cooperation and exchange.

Fudan University had seen a growing number of registrations of Macao students: this year around 140 instances, said Mr Xu. Fudan University had maintained close ties with several Macao universities. Fudan University and the Macao SAR Government would strengthen cooperation in healthcare, socio-economic development, and cultural exchange, he added.

During the meeting, members of the Macao delegation shared their views and conducted exchanges with Mr Xu, on a number of topics. These included: financial services, cultural affairs, tourism, economic development, and advancement of news media.

Members of the Macao delegation taking part in the meeting included: the Secretary for Economy and Finance, Mr Lei Wai Nong; the Director of Macao Government Tourism Office, Ms Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes; the Director of the Economic and Technological Development Bureau, Mr Tai Kin Ip; the President of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, Ms Mok Ian Ian; the Director of the Government Information Bureau, Ms Chan Lou; and the Director of the Policy Research and Regional Development Bureau, Mr Cheong Chok Man.

Vice President of Fudan University, Mr Xu Lei, and the Director of Fudan University library, Mr Chen Sihe, were also present at the meeting.

Prior to the meeting, the Chief Executive paid a visit to Fudan University Museum, and met with Macao students attending Fudan University.