The National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference holds a news conference on March 2, 2019. [Photo/Xinhua] The country's top political advisory body will actively support the implementation of the development goals of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, a spokesman said on Saturday. Guo Weimin, spokesman for the second session of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, said the CPPCC National Committee attaches great importance to the Greater Bay Area development, and is proactively facilitating its implementation. The CPPCC National Committee will hold thematic group discussions focusing on the Greater Bay Area during its annual plenary session, which will open on Sunday, Guo told reporters at the first press conference ahead of the annual two sessions in Beijing. The two sessions, or lianghui, are the annual meetings of the National People's Congress and the CPPCC National Committee. The central government unveiled the long-anticipated outline development plan for the Greater Bay Area on Feb 18. The development blueprint lays out the vision for coordinated development of the 11-city cluster, comprised of the two special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macao, and nine cities in Guangdong province. The plan aims at developing the region into an international first-class bay area, to rival the world's top city clusters in San Francisco, New York and Tokyo. The plan is an important outline document guiding the current and future cooperation and development of the Greater Bay Area, and maintaining the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and Macao, Guo noted. The CPPCC National Committee will make ongoing efforts to do what it can to help implement the development goals of the Greater Bay Area. Throughout the year, the committee will continue to offer suggestions and gather views from the public by holding biweekly consultative meetings and online conferences of committee members, and organizing forums and studies, Guo said. Discussions will center on how to facilitate the Greater Bay Area's bid to become an international innovation and technology hub. Committee members also will exchange ideas about how to promote youth exchange across the region, and about innovation in institutions and mechanisms to advance the Greater Bay Area's development, Guo said. The 2,000-plus members of the CPPCC National Committee will use these various activities to help garner support and build consensus in pushing forward the region's integrated development. The CPPCC National Committee has consistently provided support to the development of the Greater Bay Area. While the region's development plan was in the formulation process, members of the CPPCC National Committee presented many relevant proposals last year, and 158 proposals have been accepted, Guo added. This year also marks the 20th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland. Guo said the central government, the Macao SAR government and different organizations in the city are all preparing various celebratory activities to commemorate the joyous occasion. Macao has made remarkable strides in the past 20 years, with firm support from the central government. Under the one country, two systems principle, the SAR has adhered to people of Macao governing Macao with a high degree of autonomy, and has become a prosperous place that offers its residents stability and quality living standards, Guo said. He added that Macao will continue to play important roles as a global tourism and leisure center, and as an economic and trade cooperation platform between China and Lusophone (people culturally and linguistically linked to Portugal) countries. With its extensive international connections, Macao is also an important link in the Belt and Road Initiative. wristbands canadacustom silicone bracelets canadarubber bracelets canadasilicone bracelets canadasilicone wristbands canadacustom wristbands canadacanadian wristbandswristbands canada
Preliminary planning of an electricity grid that will send mainland power to Jinmen and Matsu - islets near Taiwan that also lie off the coast of Xiamen, Fujian province - has been completed, according to a national lawmaker from Xiamen.The province has also finished plans for a water pipeline to Matsu, said Chen Zixuan, a deputy to the 13th National People's Congress, during a panel discussion at the ongoing gathering of the top legislature in Beijing on March 6."The province has already finished preparatory work and will continue to promote the integrated development of Fujian and Taiwan" said Chen, who is deputy director of the Standing Committee of the Xiamen People's Congress.Xiamen, Jinmen and Matsu are separated by a narrow stretch of water and they have geographical, linguistic and cultural commonalities.While addressing a gathering in Beijing to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Message to Compatriots in Taiwan in January, President Xi Jinping called for closer cross-Straits ties and proposed connecting Fujian to the islands of Jinmen and Matsu via water and gas pipelines, a power grid and a bridge."For a long time, residents of the two islets have been hoping the mainland would help ease their water and power shortages, and a bridge connecting Xiamen to Jinmen is also part of their long-standing wishes," she said, adding that the projects are important to the livelihoods of people in the area.In August, a 28-kilometer pipeline delivering 34,000 cubic meters of water per day from Fujian to Jinmen came online to alleviate water shortages on the islet.Fujian is also taking the lead in offering favorable policies to improve the lives of Taiwan residents who study, work or run businesses on the mainland.Chen said 176 Taiwan-funded companies in Fujian took part in a tax reduction policy for high-tech enterprises last year, with a total of 758 million yuan ($112 million) in deductions realized.Last year, 490 Taiwan students applied to study at universities in Fujian, up 67 percent over the previous year. About 12,200 Taiwan residents came to the province for work or to start their own businesses in 2018, an increase of 87.5 percent over the previous year, she said.Another NPC deputy, Zhuang Jiahan, who is mayor of Xiamen, said, "We welcome and support exchanges with cities in Taiwan on the basis of adhering to the 1992 Consensus, which embodies the one-China policy."Zhuang said he is looking forward to meeting Han Kuo-yu, mayor of Kaohsiung, Taiwan, who will visit Hong Kong, Macao, Xiamen and Shenzhen in Guangdong province at the end of this month to seek more cooperation with mainland cities."Han hopes to sell Kaohsiung's agricultural products to the mainland and attract mainland tourists to the city," said Zhuang, adding that it will increase the well-being of compatriots on both sides.During his election campaign in November, Han said the city should deepen cooperation with the mainland to boost its economy. He gained popularity with his slogan, "Goods go out, people come in, and Kaohsiung makes a fortune."
