Editor's Note: As we celebrate the third anniversary of the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin (shortly referred to as the "Cooperation Zone"), GDToday is launching a series of interviews titled "Hengqin Thinkers". This series gathers distinguished individuals from the fields of government, business, and academia to review Hengqin's significant progress and offer a comprehensive view of its development journey. Through these dialogues, we aim to highlight Hengqin's role in promoting industrial collaboration between Guangdong and Macao, strengthening ties with Portuguese-speaking countries, and reflecting the importance and future potential of China's modernization efforts.

At the 6th Ministerial Conference of the Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Macao), held on April 22 this year, the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin was mentioned for the first time. The conference announced that Macao's role as a service platform for trade and economic cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries would be further enhanced, and priority would be given to eligible China-Portugal projects landing in the Cooperation Zone.

Since its establishment, the Cooperation Zone has developed rapidly, creating a favourable environment and conditions for deepening cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries. This has not only injected new vitality into trade exchanges but has also provided vast development opportunities for Macao's younger generation, especially the Macao-born Portuguese descendants. Recently, Rita Santos, a representative of the Macao-born Portuguese and Former Deputy Secretary-General of the Permanent Secretariat to the Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Macao), said in an interview with GDToday.

Coordination between Hengqin and Macao is yielding results, with Portuguese residents in Macao actively integrating

In Macao, a land rich in diverse cultures, the Macao-born Portuguese community has long been a unique group, serving as a bridge between Eastern and Western cultures. As a representative of the group, Rita Santos, who currently serves as President of the Regional Council of the Portuguese Communities for Asia and Oceania and Former Deputy Secretary-General of the Permanent Secretariat to the Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Macao), has been actively promoting economic and cultural exchanges between China and Portuguese-speaking countries.

Against the backdrop of globalization, regional cooperation has become a key driver of economic development. With the accelerated development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the rise of the Cooperation Zone over the past three years, Macao is facing unprecedented opportunities. When asked about Hengqin's advantages in helping Macao further expand the economic benefits of the China-Portugal cooperation platform, Rita Santos noted, "When I was working at the China-Portugal Forum, I was confident in the coordinated development of Hengqin and Macao. From a purely physical perspective, Hengqin is three times the size of Macao, which signals vast opportunities and unlimited possibilities for collaboration between the two regions."

She further emphasized that with strong leadership and support from the governments of both Hengqin and Macao, Hengqin's rapid development has not only paved a broader path for local businesses in Macao but has also built an efficient bridge for entrepreneurs from Portuguese-speaking countries. This has greatly facilitated the cross-border flow and optimized allocation of resources, including capital, technology, and talent.

She particularly highlighted, "One major advantage in attracting entrepreneurs from Portuguese-speaking countries to Hengqin is the preferential tax policies. Hengqin has reduced the corporate income tax rate to 15%, which not only appeals to Macao's entrepreneurs, but also shows Portuguese-speaking countries the potential for development in Hengqin. Tax incentives are crucial for businesses, especially in the early stages, as they can significantly reduce costs and enhance competitiveness."

Apart from policy benefits, Hengqin's livable environment has also gained popularity among Macao-born Portuguese, Portuguese residents in Macao, and other residents from Portuguese-speaking countries. Rita Santos shared, "Recently, I spoke with many Portuguese people, and some of them have already chosen to settle in Hengqin  permanently. They find Hengqin's environment very comfortable, with abundant greenery, and the cost of living is much lower than in Macao."

According to China's latest policy, starting from July 10 this year, non-Chinese permanent residents of Hong Kong and Macao will be able to apply for a Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents, enjoying more convenient cross-border travel services. From September 1, non-Chinese Macao residents holding this permit will also be able to apply for the "Northbound Travel for Macao Vehicles" policy, allowing them to drive their vehicles into the Chinese mainland with ease. These measures will undoubtedly pave new bridges for economic and cultural cooperation between Portuguese-speaking countries and China and will significantly enhance the integration and development of Portuguese-speaking residents and entrepreneurs in Hengqin and Macao.

When discussing Hengqin's development and its impact on the Macao-born Portuguese community, Rita Santos expressed great anticipation. She believes it offers a unique development opportunity for the new generation of Macao-born Portuguese. The younger generation is more adaptable to modern environments and new ways of life, and Hengqin, as a rapidly developing special economic zone, provides an ideal platform for them.

"The new generation of Macao-born Portuguese has a more open mindset, and they are willing to embrace new challenges and opportunities. I believe Hengqin's development will offer them even more opportunities," she said.

Tax benefits and simplified customs clearance expected to create a 'Portuguese-style' investment fast track

Since its establishment, the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin has continuously strengthened cooperation with Portuguese-speaking countries. So far, it has welcomed more than 15 delegations from Portuguese-speaking countries, with nearly 400 Portuguese-speaking business investors conducting on-site visits to Hengqin. Over the past year, the Hengqin Economic Development Bureau and relevant departments in Macao have organized several joint investment promotion trips to Portugal.

In July of this year, Rita Santos, along with a delegation of entrepreneurs from the Chinese mainland, Macao, and Hengqin, visited Angola and Mozambique. They participated in the "China-Portuguese-Speaking Countries Business Cooperation Forum" and the "Macao-Hengqin Investment Promotion Conference", as well as other business promotion activities, business matching, and field visits. The goal was to leverage new opportunities created by the cooperation between Macao and Hengqin, as well as Macao's unique role as a platform for trade between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, to deepen economic ties.

Drawing from her experience at the China-Portugal Forum and observations during these trips, Rita Santos emphasized the importance of strengthening collaboration with Macao entrepreneurs for mainland (including Henqin) entrepreneurs to expand into Portuguese-speaking markets. "We are very familiar with the cultures and business models of Portuguese-speaking countries, and Macao entrepreneurs can play a vital role in helping mainland companies enter these markets."

In addition, Rita Santos suggested further developing Hengqin as a distribution hub for Portuguese-speaking countries' products to enter the Chinese market. She proposed implementing new preferential tax treatment to attract more investment from Portuguese-speaking countries, encouraging them to set up factories in Hengqin and use it as a gateway to the Chinese mainland market. "If products from Portuguese-speaking countries can enter the Chinese market through Hengqin with tax benefits, more companies will be willing to establish operations there," she said.

She also suggested using the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) as a reference, allowing products made in Hengqin by Portuguese-speaking companies to enjoy zero tariffs when entering the Chinese mainland. "The implementation of such a policy would significantly boost Portuguese-speaking countries' enthusiasm for investing in Hengqin," she added.

Rita Santos believes there is vast potential for cooperation between Hengqin, Macao, and Portuguese-speaking countries. "Every year, many entrepreneurs from Portuguese-speaking countries come to Macao for various business and cultural exchange activities. In the future, I hope Hengqin can seize these opportunities by arranging more field visits, symposiums, or information sessions for these entrepreneurs to help them better understand the investment environment and cooperation opportunities in Hengqin." Rita Santos  also expressed the hope that, in the future, the Macao government and relevant departments in Hengqin could introduce more visa-free policies for entrepreneurs and government officials from Portuguese-speaking countries to further promote interaction and cooperation between China and these nations.

Looking ahead, Rita Santos is confident in Hengqin's future, expressing hope that Hengqin will become a new benchmark for China-Portugal cooperation and create more opportunities for economic and cultural collaboration between the two sides.

Reporter: Eastbrook, Nan

Poster: Cai Junru

Video: Guo Hongda

Translator: Zhang Xuanzhen

Editor: Nina, James, Yu Lulu