A delegation of members of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) from the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) surveyed Fujian province from Sept 22 to 27, in an effort to seek more opportunities to cooperate with the eastern Chinese province.

Led by Edmund Ho Hau Wah, vice-chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, the delegation explored more collaboration with Fujian in a wide range of areas including economic development, trade, finance, technology, culture, education and tourism.

The CPPCC National Committee members visited three major developed cities of Fujian -- the provincial capital city Fuzhou, Quanzhou and Xiamen -- and experienced the province's development in diversified sectors from its urban planning to historical sites and from universities to large enterprises.

"Fujian has won the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic and the province is filled with renewed spirit and outlook, which has fully demonstrated Chinese spirit and Chinese power," said Ke Lan, vice-president of the Administration Committee on Municipal Affairs of Macao's Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau.

"Fujian has always been at the forefront of China's reform and opening-up in the past 40 years,” Ke said. She said she believes that Fujian and Macao can enjoy mutual development and the two governments have plenty of room for cooperation in financing, trade and people-to-people exchanges, as Fujian is now promoting the construction of the core area of the Maritime Silk Road while Macao serves as a crucial node in Belt and Road construction.

Many large enterprises in Fujian have showcased scientific and technological innovation capabilities and the entrepreneurial attempts of Fujian's "Jinjiang experience" are also instructive for start-up businesses, according to Ke.

Deputy head of the Macao delegation Xu Jiankang, who is a member of the Standing Committee of the CPPCC National Committee and the president of the Fujian Clan Association of Macao, lauded Fujian's economic achievements in the context of COVID-19 prevention and control, and he hopes the two sides can deepen cooperation based on proactive and well-planned goals.

Chui Sai-cheong, a member of the CPPCC National Committee and vice-chairman of the Committee on Economic Affairs under the CPPCC National Committee, echoed Xu's opinions and suggested more practical cooperation in economic areas at a time of the best ever cooperative opportunities for Fujian and Macao.

"Many members of the CPPCC National Committee from Macao were born in Fujian and they can play their positive roles in the cooperation," said Chui, who now acts as vice-president of  Macao's Legislative Assembly.

Zhang Zongzhen, a member of the CPPCC National Committee and a member of Macao's Executive Council, believed that Macao can give play to its role and advantages in the cooperation with Fujian.

"As an international tourism and leisure city, Macao is superior in tourism industrial chains and can help Fujian in its culture and tourism projects, tourism talent cultivation and tourism industry programming," said Zhang.

Innovative financial cooperation can be a breakthrough in Macao's cooperation with Fujian, as Macao enjoys exceptional advantages in the capital market, Zhang added.

Zhang also noted the two sides can join hands to explore the markets in Portuguese speaking countries because he found many people from Fujian currently live in such countries as Brazil and Angola.

"Macao can take advantage of policies and platforms, and Fujian meanwhile can make good use of its overseas markets and ports in Xiamen to jointly cultivate new markets in Portuguese speaking countries," said Zhang.