On June 8 , senior Macao officials attended the Hainan Free Trade Port Development Symposium, which was held in Haikou. A total of 13 members from Hainan and 28 members from Macao participated in the Symposium, where they enjoyed deep discussions and exchanges on the policies and development of the Hainan Free Trade Port, as well as the development of Macao’s economy, technology, and financial industry.

At the symposium, Xia Chen’ge, the Deputy Director of the Talent Development Bureau of the CPC Hainan Provincial Committee gave an introduction to the work for talents in Hainan since the master plan for the Hainan Free Trade Port was released one year ago. “More than 168,000 talented people have been brought into the province, an increase of 425% since the release of the master plan for the Hainan Free Trade Port on June 1 last year," said Xia.

He added that Macao is one of the important cities of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and also a global center of tourism and entertainment with a wealth of international professional talents resources. He suggested that Hainan and Macao can promote talent exchange and cooperation in three ways: holding a China (Hainan) Talent Exchange Conference & Belt and Road Talent Development Forum, promoting mutual recognition of professional qualifications between Hainan and Macao, and deepening exchange and cooperation in teaching and scientific research.

Wei Dongjun, Advisor to the Office of the Secretary for Economic and Financial Affairs of the Macao SAR Government believes that the policies of the Hainan FTP are an important national strategy. He also added that Macao SAR concentrates more on business travel and is different from Hainan. It is relatively small, measuring only 32.8 square kilometers, so there are relatively few tourist attractions in Macao SAR. However, one of the tourism sectors that need to be developed is business travel. "I know that the Boao Forum for Asia is also held in Hainan, and I believe that Hainan and Macao SAR will develop greatly in tourism cooperation, especially as Hainan is developing as a Free Trade Port. More overseas investment and international exhibitions will come to Hainan, so it is beneficial to invite overseas investment together and hold joint exhibitions,” said Wei.

In the following days, the senior Macao officials will visit and study the Hainan Ecological Software Park, the Haikou Comprehensive Bonded Zone, the Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone, the Sanya International Duty-free Mall, the Sanya Central Business District, and the China (Hainan) Museum of the South China Sea.