Aerial photo taken on Nov. 3, 2019 shows beautiful view of the Macao Peninsula, south China. (Xinhua/Liu Jinhai)
SEIZING GOLDENING OPPORTUNITY OF GBA
With a per capita GDP among one of the highest in the world, Macao has reached a development bottleneck: the majority of young people have received higher education but have not much space for moving around and developing suitable careers. As a result, embracing the GBA and going to the vast mainland has become a consensus of the young generation.
"Macao is much less international compared with Hong Kong. At the time of return we decided that we should rely completely on the mainland on the principle of 'exchanging with provinces far away and integrating with provinces close-by'. With far-away provinces, we will carry out more exchanges and seek cooperation opportunities. With neighboring Guangdong province we will push forward integration if permitted," Ho said.
"The GBA is a golden opportunity for Macao people," as it allows Macao to make full use of its advantages accumulated after the return and enables it to break its long-time development bottleneck.
Macao's biggest advantage is that it is a free port under the framework of "one country, two systems" enjoying an independent monetary policy as well as free financial, economic and trade activities. Thus it is an economy full of vitality, Ho said, adding the SAR government and all walks of society should continue to make full use of the benefit of "one country, two systems" and bring its advantages to full play in accordance with the country's needs.
For example Macao has been positioned as a service platform for trade cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries. "If Macao could make good use of this unique role it can fully realize its characteristics and advantages, which will help solve many difficulties in its process of moderately diversifying the economy," Ho said.
In 2009 after finishing his term as the chief executive Ho took over as vice chairman of the National Committee of the CPPCC. Since then he has done his utmost to promote exchanges between Macao and mainland provinces. "Almost all provinces care a lot about Macao's development and wish to cooperate with Macao. Macao members of the National Committee of the CPPCC have done a lot of specific jobs to open more windows for Macao's exchanges with the mainland," he said.
"Macao still faces pressure, challenges and competitions ahead but I am very optimistic about its future. After 20 years' efforts, Macao has reversed its difficult situation and has now made some achievements and laid some foundation, which also demonstrated the strong vitality of 'one country, two systems,'" Ho said.
"Standing on a new historical point, we have every reason to believe that our motherland will become better. When our motherland is good, the future of Macao is bound to become better," he said.
