Chairman of the Board of Directors of Macau International Airport Company Limited (CAM) Mr. Ma Iao Hang, Chairman of the Executive Committee of CAM Dr. Deng Jun, Executive Director of CAM Mr. Lei Si Tai and other department representatives welcomed Deputy Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and Vice Chairman of Hubei Provincial Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) Mr. Erkenjiang Tulahon and his delegation visiting Macau International Airport on 31st October 2022. The meeting provided a valuable exchange platform, of which both parties to get on the same page regarding the air logistics cooperation between Macau and Hubei.

Chairman Ma first welcomed the delegation coming to pay a visit and gave a brief introduction about the traffic of Macau International Airport (MIA): the annual passenger volume of MIA reached 9.6 million in 2019, which is 14 times the local population. With the steady recovery of the aviation industry, the expansion plan of MIA has also been put on the agenda. Chairman Ma shared the good news that the reclamation and expansion plan of MIA has recently been approved by the State Council, which fully demonstrates the full support and concern of Central Government to the economic development and the civil aviation industry of Macau SAR. At the same time, the SAR Government also attaches great importance to air cargo development of Macau and provides guidance to MIA with setting cargo development goal. It is believed that with the improvement of the pandemic and the recovery of the civil aviation industry, air logistics in the Bay Area would enter a stage of rapid development.

At the meeting, Chairman Deng mentioned that the cooperation between the Mainland and Macau civil aviation has been long-standing, and history of the aviation development of Macau and Hubei. He pointed out that Macau has a comparative advantage in regard to the freedoms of the air; it also plays an integral and irreplaceable role in China-European Union economic development cooperation. Meanwhile, the national policies that support the development of Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin and the promotion of moderate economic diversification of Macau also favour the development of the logistics industry in the region. Against the background of national development strategies, freedoms of the air, air services agreements, and World Trade Organisation (WTO) membership, these have made MIA competitive in the international aviation market. Chairman Deng also expressed that the SAR Government is highly concerned about the development of the air cargo industry and hoped that both parties can make full use of its strengths in light of the circumstances to facilitate mutual cooperation of Macau and Hubei and achieve a win-win situation.

Executive Director Mr. Lei looks forward to the cargo business cooperation between MIA and Ezhou Huahu Airport and believed that more development opportunities and mutual benefits would be brought. With deepen coordination and cooperation between the two airports that closely exchange for opinions and advice, so as to facilitate the coordinated development on air cargo business of Macau and Hubei.

In the meeting, Deputy Director of Logistics and General Aviation Development Department of CAM Mr. Jim Leung introduced the general situation of the cargo business of MIA, its positioning and development strategies to the delegation. He expressed that both parties can further discuss for the direction of future cooperation by giving full play to the advantages of each, in order to accelerate the linked development of cargo business between two airports.

Deputy Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and Vice Chairman of Hubei Provincial Committee of the CPPCC Mr. Erkenjiang Tulahon agreed that Macau International Airport occupied incomparable advantages and conditions than many airports in Mainland. He pointed out that economic development and epidemic prevention works complement each other. With prevention works implemented in place, the recovery of economy will be faster. He shared that Hubei Provincial Committees of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and Hubei Provincial Government coordinated epidemic prevention and control and economic and social development in accordance with General Secretary of the CCP Mr. Xi Jinping’s important speech and instructions on Hubei’s work, so that Hubei achieved a good momentum of economic development. The GDP growth of Hubei Province in the first ten months of this year was above the national average level, and Hubei economy has been maintaining its positive momentum. At the meantime, Hubei Province has launched a series of measures, including incentive policies for enterprises from Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, to further optimize the business environment and lay a solid foundation for the development of Hubei Province. In addition, Hubei Province is known as the “Nine Province Thoroughfares”, which high-speed railway network covers 70% of the country’s medium-large sized cities within 3 hours, is an absolute location advantage. He believes that the joint development of air logistics is bound to be mutually beneficial and win-win if the economic development of Hubei and various preferential policies could be leveraged on characteristics and advantages of Macau with deepen exchanges and cooperation.

Deputy Secretary-General of the Hubei Provincial Committee of the CPPCC and Director of the Research Office Mr. Wang Binwu, said that Macau occupies a strategic position in the communication between the country and the Portuguese-speaking countries. Currently, Macau International Airport is seeking breakthroughs in the cargo development, while Ezhou Huahu Airport is also in the stage of business expansion. It is believed that the cooperation between two airports can achieve a win-win situation.

Director of the Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, Overseas Chinese and Foreign Affairs Committee of the Hubei Provincial Committee of the CPPCC Ms. Hu Liming, looks forward to maintain close interaction with CAM to provide suggestions and references for cooperation between the two parties, and further coordinate for subsequent reporting to the Hubei Provincial Government in promoting the safe development of air cargo business of Macau and Hubei.

Other representatives of CAM included: Director of the Executive Committee Office Ms. Katy Lo, Director of Corporate Communication and Policy Research Office Ms. Vicki Mou, Deputy Director of Logistics and General Aviation Development Department (LGD) Ms. Emma Tang, Officer of LGD Ms. Emma Zhou.