Beijing’s new man in Macau is a former vice-minister of commerce, with the aim of bolstering ties with Portuguese-speaking countries
- The appointment of Fu Ziying as director of the central government’s liaison office comes amid the continuing trade war between China and the US
- Fu, 61, replaces Zheng Xiaosong, who fell to his death in October
Beijing has appointed a vice-minister of commerce to be its top official in Macau, in a move seen as the central government’s bid to strengthen economic ties with Portuguese-speaking nations amid an ongoing trade war with the United States.
Commentators and lawmakers believe that the appointment of Fu Ziying as director of the central government’s liaison office in Macau would help the tourism and casino hub to become a commercial staging post between China and countries such as Brazil and Portugal. It would also help Macau to diversity its economy, they said.
“Beijing has always wanted Macau to reduce its reliance on the gaming industry, and become a commerce and trade platform,” said Lau Siu-kai, vice-chairman of The Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macau Studies, a semi-official think tank.
“This is especially important amid the trade war, as the US seeks to contain China.”
China’s cabinet, the State Council, announced in a statement on Friday that it had appointed Fu, 61, director of the central government’s liaison office in Macau.
