19 April 2024 – SJM Resorts, S.A. (“SJM”) has always been committed to the promotion of the spirit of “Love for the Motherland, Love for Macau” among the general public and its employees through patriotic education. On the morning of 19 April, the “SJM Patriotic Education Series - Two Sessions Spirit Sharing Session” was successfully held at the Grand Ballroom of the Grand Lisboa Macau. The event was graced by Mr. Yang Yi, Deputy Director of the Economic Affairs Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao SAR, and has invited Mr. Kou Hoi In, Member of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress; Ms. Ho Sut Heng, Member of the National People’s Congress from the Macao SAR; Dr. Vong Chuk Kwan, Member of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference from the Macao SAR, and Mr. Ng Chi Leong, Member of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference from the Macao SAR, to convey the important messages from the Two Sessions in 2024 and offer their insights to over 350 employees of SJM.

The Sharing Session was attended by Ms. Daisy Ho, Managing Director of SJM; Ms. Angela Leong, Director and Chairman of the Staff Welfare Consultative Committee of SJM; Dr. Ambrose So and Ms. Maisy Ho, Directors of SJM, and moderated by Ms. Angela Leong.

In her welcome speech, Ms. Daisy Ho, Managing Director of SJM, remarked, “The Government Work Report released during the Two Sessions affirmed the role and achievements of the Macao SAR in driving high-quality development and provided guidance for Macau’s integration into the national development. By earnestly studying the spirit of the Two Sessions, we can better support the SAR Government, proactively contribute to the building of the Greater Bay Area and the Hengqin-Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone, facilitate the development of new productive forces with Macau characteristics, consolidate and enhance Macau’s competitiveness, and promote broad-based economic growth.” She added, “Upholding the core values of unity and patriotism, SJM is committed to promoting the steadfast and successful implementation of ‘One Country, Two Systems.’ Together, we will build and share a remarkable China story. SJM will continue to advance patriotic education, cultivating patriotic sentiments among its employees and the community, and fostering the younger generation’s identification and pride in China’s outstanding tradition and culture.”

At the Sharing Session, the four speakers shared the spirit of the Two Sessions from different perspectives and themes. They gave an overview of the annual work report of the central government and the key areas of development were presented. They put forward ways for Macau to leverage the advantages of “One Country, Two Systems,” harness the strengths of the SAR, consolidate and optimise its own capabilities, and promote the building of “One Center, One Platform, One Base” for Macau. They also emphasised the importance of deepening regional cooperation with the Greater Bay Area in order to accelerate economic diversification in Macau and better integrate into the overall national development, amassing strengths to push forward modernisation with Chinese characteristics and the great rejuvenation of the nation.

Mr. Kou Hoi In provided an overview of the Central Government’s Work Report in 2023, as well as the major development objectives for 2024. He shared, during the Two Sessions, key National People’s Congress leaders who met the delegation of National People’s Congress from the Macao SAR fully affirmed the SAR’s efforts on implementing the “One Country, Two Systems.” They also put forward the Central Government’s directions and instructions for Macau, emphasising that the SAR must maintain and leverage our unique advantages and position, continuously enrich our content, promote economic advancement, improve the citizens’ welfare and well-being, and drive Macau’s integration into the national development framework.

Ms. Ho Sut Heng delivered on the subjects of high-quality development, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and the Hengqin-Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone. She also explained the key concept of “new quality productive forces” and its implications, specifically pointing out that high-quality labour is the foundation of new quality productive forces. Therefore, it is necessary to cultivate relevant strategic talents and skilled professionals who can proficiently utilise new quality productive data.

Dr. Vong Chuk Kwan summarised the national development objectives. She explained, in response to the higher requirements and new tasks put forward by the Central Government, and in alignment with the country’s high-level opening-up and high-quality development, the Macao SAR must leverage our strengths in education and cultural tourism to nurture a new generation of talents. We should promote the implementation of the ‘1+4’ appropriate economic diversification strategy, optimise Macau’s cultural and tourism contents, stimulate consumption potential, and foster a virtuous economic cycle.

Mr. Ng Chi Leong stressed the need to fully utilise the unique functions and role of the SAR in bridging China with the world. He urged for accelerating and deepening the construction of the Hengqin Guangdong-Macao in-depth cooperation zone and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area for promoting the diversification and steady development of Macau’s economy. Macau should thrust ahead its integration into the national development framework for contributing to the Country’s reform, opening-up and modernisation efforts.

For encouraging and offering employees from various shifts the opportunity to learn about the spirit of the Two Sessions, key highlights of the Sharing Session were edited and shown on the same day in the back-of-house areas of SJM properties, including Grand Lisboa Palace Resort Macau, Grand Lisboa Macau, Oceanus at Jai Alai and Ponte 16 Resort, Macau.

The Sharing Session is one of the key activities under the “SJM Patriotic Education Series.” Since 2011, SJM became Macau’s first integrated tourism and leisure enterprise to organise the “Jiangxi Jinggangshan Patriotic Education and Training Programme.” The company will continue to collaborate with various mainland and local institutions and organisations, including the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in Macao, universities, colleges, secondary schools in Macau and the Greater Bay Area, as well as different community groups to offer a wide range of activities such as “Tell China Stories” workshops, showcase of patriotic films, and a myriad of other nationalism classes, enabling citizens, especially the younger generation, to understand the development of the Country and the SAR and cultivate awareness and sentiment of love and pride for the nation.

The Sharing Session provided the employees of SJM with a clear understanding of the spirit of the Two Sessions and the direction of the Country’s future development, bringing significant benefits to the enterprise and the personal growth of its employees. SJM will continue to encourage our staff members to study and spread the spirit of the Two Sessions, uniting the power of ‘Love for the Motherland, Love for Macau’, to ensure the stable and sustainable implementation of “One Country, Two Systems” and together compose a quality narrative for China.