On 10 November, Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) convenes the Opening Ceremony of the First Conference of the International Science, Technology and Innovation Forum of BFA (ISTIF). H. E. HO Yicheng, Chief Executive of the Macao SAR, delivered a speech at the conference, expressing thanks for President H.E. XI Jinping’’s congratulatory letter and Vice-Premier H.E. Han Zheng’’s video speech, and congratulating the opening of the Conference on behalf of the Macao SAR Government.
H. E. HO Yicheng said that since Macao’’s return, with the strong support of the central government, the Macao SAR Government has worked with people from all areas to usher in a new era of the successful implementation of the "one country, two systems" with Macao characteristics. As the central city of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Macao has a free port and a separate customs territory, holding obvious institutional and geographical advantages. The Outline of the Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area issued last year further clarified Macao’’s development orientation as a "world tourism and leisure center", a "service platform for business cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries" and a "base for exchanges and cooperation with Chinese culture as the mainstream and multi-cultural co-existing".
H. E. HO Yicheng said that President XI Jinping’’s speech at the Celebration Conference of the 40th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone is also of great guiding significance to Macao. Innovation is the primary driving force for development. The strategy of innovation-driven development should be unswervingly implemented, new driving forces should be forested, new potential energy should be upgraded, and a scientific, technological and industrial innovation highland with global influence should be built. The Macao SAR government will further strengthen the scientific and technological innovation development strategy, improving its mechanism and the system of achievement transformation to explore a market demand oriented development model with enterprises, universities, and research institutes combined.
H. E. HO Yicheng stressed that Macao will make full use of its special status and unique advantages. Macao will serve as a platform and actively participate in the "double circle”, the " Belt and Road" and the construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, deepening and expanding the economic, scientific and technological exchanges and cooperation with both Mainland China and the world. Macao will continue promoting moderate economic sustainable development, sparing no effort to help countries achieve a higher level of opening up and a higher quality of development.