Beijing’s point man on Macau affairs calls on city to ‘stand firm’ amid trade war
Xia Baolong also stresses need to explore new markets in meeting with city’s chief executive and local members of national governing bodies
Xia Baolong, director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office (HKMAO), on Sunday also emphasised the importance of developing Hengqing to help diversify the city’s economy, echoing instructions delivered by Chinese President Xi Jinping during his own visit last year.
In the morning, Xia entered a dim sum restaurant in Macau’s central district accompanied by Chief Executive Sam Hou-fai, a former top judge elected to lead the city in October.
The pair were joined at the breakfast meeting by nearly a dozen local members of the National People’s Congress (NPC) and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).
According to attendees, Xia discussed the trade war and the country’s economic situation.
“[Xia] has full confidence in our economic recovery and this year’s GDP growth and said we have to stand firm in the trade war,” NPC deputy Kevin Ho King-lun cited the official as saying.