Liang Hua, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, makes a speech at the fourth plenary meeting of the second session of the 13th CPPCC National Committee in Beijing on March 11. [Photo/Xinhua]

Development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area as a nationally important strategic deployment offers new opportunities for Hong Kong and Macao to expedite integration into national development.

The development planning for the bay area has been issued and its integrated development has been officially launched. The development offers Macao a golden development opportunity and Macao compatriots will spare no efforts to join in its development. 

1. Publicizing it extensively and building consensus 

The Macao Special Administrative Region government should organize study of implementation planning and procedures that allow Macao to participate in the bay area's construction. Civil societies actively coordinate the government to hold information sessions and forums, mainly focusing on issues that Macao compatriots pay attention to, such as Macao’s development orientation and jointly building a quality living area. The activities hopefully enhance the sense of mission and gain of Macao compatriots, especially youth, for joining in the bay area’s construction.

2. Finding development engines and achieving cooperation and win-win results

Macao, one of the four key cities in the bay area, should expedite building the traditional Chinese medicine scientific and technological development platform and the Guangdong-Macao traditional Chinese medicine scientific and technological industrial park and also actively participate in construction of the internationally scientific and technological innovation center. 

It can give play to advantages of Macao's close contact with Portuguese-speaking countries, expedite building the China-Portuguese-speaking countries financial service platform, and undertake financial cooperation service between China and Portuguese-speaking countries. Macao can help develop the bay area into an important supporting area for the Belt and Road Initiative, using its tourism resources and tourism education and training resources to help the bay area to become a world-class tourist destination.

3. Giving play to historic and cultural advantages and jointly building a cultural bay area 

Macao boasts historic and cultural resources featuring Eastern and Western culture communication and integration of more than 400 years and impressive cultural and arts achievements since its return 20 years ago. It should fully use resources, including historic areas listed as world cultural heritages and internationally influential cultural brand events and play an active role in developing a cultural bay area. 

It should use capital and financial resources to consolidate development of a foundation of the bay area's cultural industry. It should build a film and television cooperation experimental area in the bay area and develop its cultural and arts communication platform. 

It will explore setting up an alliance among the bay area's literary and arts workers to promote communication and partnership among related professionals and societies. It will promote Macao to become a communication and cooperation center where the Chinese culture is mainstream and diverse cultures coexist. 

4. Expediting profound Guangdong-Macao cooperation in Hengqin 

In development of the bay area, Macao may promote Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao cooperation in Hengqin, Zhuhai, by building the Macao youth entrepreneurship valley, the Guangdong-Macao cooperation industry park, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao logistics park and a collaborative Macao life park providing for the elderly's needs for accommodation, education and health care. 

I believe that with great support from the central government and joint efforts from all sectors of Macao society the region will spare no efforts to participate in the bay area's development, more actively integrate into national development and promote sustainable and moderately diversified economic development.