The Chief Executive, Mr Ho Iat Seng, said today the Government would step up collaboration with China Media Group in order to promote further Macao’s image and unique culture to the world, and to showcase the city’s successful implementation of the “One country, two systems” principle with Macao characteristics.

Mr Ho made the remarks during a ceremony held in Macao to advance strategic cooperation between China Media Group and the Macao Special Administrative Region (MSAR). The ceremony was jointly presided over by Vice Minister of the Publicity Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and President of China Media Group, Mr Shen Haixiong, and Mr Ho.

During today’s ceremony, a number of agreements was signed, including an agreement on the broadcast in Macao of a series of China Media Group original productions themed on the 100th anniversary of the founding of the CPC; and an agreement authorising Teledifusão de Macau (TDM) to broadcast in Macao the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, and the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics.

China Media Group produced a series of TV programmes in celebration of the centenary of the CPC, including a show for the presentation ceremony of the July 1 Medal; a variety show titled “The Great Journey”; and several television dramas such as “The Awakening Age”, “Decisive Victory”, and “Going Across the Yalu River”. China Media Group also broadcast a live show for the grand ceremony on 1 July to mark the CPC centenary, which recorded 11.2 billion views.

In his remarks, Mr Shen said the broadcast in Macao of productions themed on the CPC centenary anniversary was part of the Central Government’s favourable measures towards Macao, namely with respect to supporting the city integrating further into national development. Such broadcast was also a concrete step towards realising the aspirations mentioned by CPC General Secretary Xi Jinping in his important speeches on Macao. Mr Shen said he hoped the TV programmes would help the Macao public to understand CPC’s development journey and achievements, therefore helping people in Macao to affirm their love for the country and for Macao, while promoting joint development of the mainland and the MSAR.

The Chief Executive said that the broadcasting of the CPC-themed productions by TDM would help audiences in Macao to gain an all-round understanding of the CPC’s endeavour over the past 100 years, inspiring Macao people and promoting their love for the country and for Macao. Meanwhile, the MSAR Government would step up collaboration with China Media Group, namely to promote globally the overall image of China, in a bid for the world to know more about the country’s development.

Macao was dedicating full effort to realising the aspirations featured in the important speeches by Secretary General Xi, with the community contributing to help seize fresh opportunities. These efforts were designed to advance the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area initiative and to open a new chapter for the implementation of the “One country, two systems” principle, Mr Ho added.

Following the signing of the agreement granting TDM non-exclusive broadcast rights for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, Mr Shen noted the Tokyo event would begin in five days and the Beijing event would start in about six months. China Media Group was fully prepared – including by making use of new technologies – to offer audiences an immersive experience of both events. Authorisation to TDM to broadcast the Olympics and Winter Olympics aimed to make available to the Macao public a high-quality transmission of both competitions, while allowing people in the city to enjoy the glory of the country’s development.

The Chief Executive said today’s agreement marked a closer partnership between China Media Group and the MaSAR. It also showcased to people in Macao the support and concern from the Central Government regarding the city, he added.

Mr Ho said additionally that live broadcast of the Olympics in Macao would enable the local public to enjoy the sports competition and observe the resilience of Olympic athletes. He added that such resilience was a precious example, namely in face of the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and efforts to spur economic recovery.

During today’s ceremony, representatives of the China Media Group Asia-Pacific base and of the University of Macau also signed a framework agreement on strategic cooperation.

Guests attending the ceremony included: the Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao SAR, Mr Fu Ziying; the Commissioner of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the Macao SAR, Mr Liu Xianfa; the Commander of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Macao Garrison, Senior Colonel Xu Liangcai; and Macao’s Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Ms Ao Ieong U.