Forge ahead steadily and make progress——Macao will accelerate its integration into the overall development of the country in 2022

　　Xinhua News Agency, Macau, December 29th

　　Xinhua News Agency reporters Liu Gang, Li Hanfang, Wang Aihua

　　2022 is the year for Macao to implement the "Second Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development of the Macao Special Administrative Region (2021-2025)" (hereinafter referred to as the "Second Five-Year Plan") and the "Overall Plan for the Construction of the Hengqin Guangdong-Macao Deep Cooperation Zone". A crucial year.

　　This year, the Macao Special Administrative Region Government has maintained steady governance and maintained overall social stability.

The SAR government conscientiously studies, publicizes and implements the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, steadily promotes the revision of the Macau National Security Law, and deepens the implementation of the principle of "patriots governing Macau"; adopts a series of measures to stabilize the economy, ensure employment, benefit the people's livelihood, and promote moderately diversified economic development .

As the construction of the Hengqin Guangdong-Macao Deep Cooperation Zone has achieved phased results, Macao is accelerating its integration into the overall development of the country.

Emphasize the feelings of family and country, promote the core values ​​of patriotism and love for Macao

　　The revision of the Macao National Security Law is a major legal practice for the Macao SAR to implement the principle of "patriots governing Macao" and to thoroughly implement the overall national security concept.

　　From August 22 to October 5, the SAR government conducted a 45-day public consultation on the revision of the National Security Law, and sorted out 111,049 opinions from the 5,937 opinions and suggestions collected.

According to the position of opinions, 93.37% agree, and only 0.40% disagree.

The relevant revised bill was passed through general discussion and vote by the SAR Legislative Council on December 15.

　　"This revision of the law provides legal and institutional guarantees for the SAR government to implement the constitutional responsibility of safeguarding national sovereignty, security, and development interests, prevent and resist external interference, and implement the principle of 'patriots governing Macao'." Political Economics of the University of Macau Sheng Li, a professor of public policy, said that through the extensive and active participation of all sectors of society, the social consensus has been further consolidated.

　　This year, the SAR government has continuously enhanced the national security awareness of the whole people through various means.

The newly published supplementary textbooks on the Constitution and the Basic Law have entered the classrooms of primary and secondary schools. Through texts, photos and other easy-to-understand forms, students' knowledge and understanding of the Constitution and the Basic Law have been strengthened, and their awareness of knowing and abiding by the law has been enhanced.

　　From April to May, the one-month "National Security Education Exhibition for All" attracted more than 58,000 visitors, and the concurrent online version of the exhibition received more than 380,000 views, both hitting record highs.

　　According to the "Second Five-Year Plan" of the SAR, the SAR government will continue to organize civil servants at all levels to participate in training on the National Security Law, so that civil servants have a more comprehensive understanding of national security and a deeper understanding.

　　Social non-governmental organizations continue to deepen and innovate the promotion of national conditions education in the SAR: carry out national conditions knowledge competitions, historical photo exhibitions and traditional cultural exchanges, enter the community, enter the campus, organize Macao students to go to the mainland for study and exchange, etc.

　　While continuing to carry out publicity and education on the Constitution, the Basic Law of Macao, and the law on safeguarding national security, the SAR government has taken practical measures to develop and strengthen the forces of patriotism and love for Macao, promote the core values ​​of patriotism and love for Macao, give full play to the bridge role of patriotic and Macao associations, and broadly gather Work together to build a social consensus in Macao and consolidate the social and political foundation of patriotism and love for Macao.

　　"These activities have enriched the connotation of patriotic education, enhanced Macao compatriots, especially young people's knowledge and understanding of national conditions, and continuously enhanced the younger generation's sense of belonging and identity to the country." said Wang Haitao, president of the Macau National Conditions Education Association.

　　"Main associations in Macao this year, including universities, primary and secondary schools, spontaneously organized to watch and listen to the 20th report. They also held various seminars and study sessions based on the reality of Macao and the practice of 'one country, two systems'." Luo Weijian, a professor at the Faculty of Law of the University of Macau This vividly reflects the strong and solid social foundation and political atmosphere of patriotism and love for Macao in the Macao Special Administrative Region.

Taking Multiple Measures to Steadily Promote Moderately Diversified Economic Development

　　"Promoting moderately diversified economic development is the primary administrative task of the current government, and it has never stopped actively promoting it even under the epidemic." Macau SAR Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng said when reviewing this year's work.

　　In 2022, while promoting the recovery of the comprehensive tourism and leisure industry, Macao will accelerate the construction of a comprehensive tourism and leisure destination integrating food, vacation, sightseeing, shopping, entertainment, culture, medical care, sports and other elements through the "tourism +" development model , and constantly enrich the connotation of Macau World Center of Tourism and Leisure.

　　The four emerging key industries of general health, modern finance, high-tech, exhibition business, culture and sports are showing a continuous growth trend:

　　——Establish the Drug Administration, implement the "Traditional Chinese Medicine Pharmaceutical Activities and Chinese Patent Medicine Registration Law", and improve the industrial license approval work for the manufacture of big health products, traditional Chinese medicine manufacturing and technology product manufacturing.

　　——Improve the foundation for the development of the bond market. The "Central Securities Depository System (CSD)" has been put into operation. Since January this year, the International Securities Identification Number (ISIN) has been assigned and maintained for bonds issued in Macao.

The "Guidelines for the Management and Operation of Private Equity Investment Funds" was issued to lay the foundation for the introduction of various types of private equity funds.

　　——Encourage colleges and universities to carry out industry-university-research cooperation with enterprises, and promote a number of industry-university-research cooperation projects engaged in integrated circuit design, network security, and artificial intelligence.

Strengthen online industry-university-research matching and launch the "Enterprise Industry-University-Research Matching Funding Plan".

　　——Deepen the work of "inviting investment through exhibitions" and promote nearly 100 activities to be held in Macao throughout the year.

Large-scale sports events such as the Macau Grand Prix, Macau International Marathon, Macau International Regatta, WTT Macau Championship will be held, and the linkage effect of "sports + tourism" cross-border integration will be brought into play.

　　"Adhering to moderate diversification and focusing on the development of emerging industries that are not dependent on tourists, especially through modern information technology, is an inevitable choice for the SAR to deal with the impact of the epidemic and turn crises into opportunities, which has better supported Macau's economic recovery." City University of Macau Vice-principal Ye Guiping said.

　　This year, the Macau SAR government has handled the revision of Macau’s gaming laws and a new round of bidding for gaming operating rights in a safe manner; in the face of the impact of the epidemic, the SAR government has launched “10 billion anti-epidemic aid”, water and electricity subsidies, electronic consumption preferential plans, optimization belts, etc. A number of measures, including the subsidy training program, are committed to relieving people's poverty, ensuring employment, and stabilizing the economy.

At the same time, we will increase financial support for the real economy, encourage banks to increase credit extension and adjust repayment plans for small and medium-sized enterprises, effectively alleviating the pressure on corporate capital flow.

　　"Macao's long-term economic fundamentals remain unchanged." The Secretary for Economy and Finance of the SAR Government, Li Weinong, said that promoting moderate economic diversification with innovative thinking is the only way for Macao's sustainable development. The SAR Government will unswervingly adopt a moderately diversified development strategy, optimize industry structure.

Comprehensively promote the construction of the Shenzhen Cooperation Zone and accelerate its integration into the overall development of the country

　　In 2022, Macao will actively participate in the construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, especially the Hengqin Guangdong-Macao Deep Cooperation Zone.

With the care and support of the central government, the SAR government and Guangdong Province have worked together to comprehensively promote the construction of the Hengqin Guangdong-Macao Deep Cooperation Zone around the "one main line" and key tasks such as industrial development, people's livelihood integration, and rule convergence.

　　The "Double 15%" preferential tax policy and the preferential personal income tax policy for Macao residents have been implemented; the mechanism of "two registrations in one place and cross-border processing" has been established to enable mainland and Macao investors to complete business (business) registration without leaving the country; "Guangdong The "Macao Social Security One Window" was put into operation, and the special cooperation of "one test and multiple certificates" for vocational skills between Guangdong and Macao was officially implemented; the total quota limit for single-plate vehicles in Hengqin was abolished; and it was more convenient for qualified foreigners in Macao to go to the Shenzhen Cooperation Zone Visa policy... The integrated development of Qin and Macao has achieved important results in stages.

　　In addition, policies such as the equal enjoyment of preschool education, compulsory education, and high school education by Macao residents in mainland cities in the Greater Bay Area have been implemented.

The "Bay Area Social Security Link" policy has been implemented, and Macao residents can participate in pension, unemployment, and work-related injury insurance in Guangdong.

　　"These facilitation measures will promote the integration of people's livelihood in Guangdong and Macao, not only creating a new living space for Macao residents, but also expanding a broader development space for Macao's industries." Sheng Li said.

　　Towards the end of the year, the policy of completely liberalizing the entry and exit of Macao private cars through the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Zhuhai Highway Port is now accepting applications.

Macao private cars that have been issued licenses can enter Guangdong via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Zhuhai Highway Port as early as New Year's Day 2023 after making an appointment.

In less than two minutes after the application system opened, more than 1,100 users registered.

　　For Yao Jincheng, a young entrepreneur in Macau, 2022 will be spent at an accelerated pace.

From opening up the sales of anti-epidemic robots by chance, to initiating the Qin-Macao Venture Capital Roundtable Forum, to planning the Guangdong-Macao and "Belt and Road" industrial incubators, his entrepreneurial journey in the Greater Bay Area has been fruitful.

　　"As the operators of science and technology innovation enterprises, we can clearly feel the policy advantages of the Qin-Macao Deep Cooperation Zone." This is Yao Jincheng's most profound experience this year.

He said: "With the development dividends of the Shenzhen Cooperation Zone, Macau and Macau people will have a better tomorrow."

　　When looking forward to the development in 2023, He Yicheng said that the SAR government will firmly grasp the opportunities of national development, make good use of Macao’s special status and unique advantages, unswervingly accelerate the promotion of moderately diversified economic development, actively participate in the construction of a new national development pattern, and pragmatically promote The construction of the Shenzhen Cooperation Zone will realize the better development of Macao on the broad stage of national development.