On 18 February 2025, the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China and the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) Government jointly hosted a policy briefing on the “Agreement II on the Amendment of the CEPA Agreement on Trade in Services” at the Macao Tower Convention and Entertainment Center. Representatives from several mainland ministries participated in the event to explain the contents of the new CEPA policies, which are set to come into effect on 1 March. Mr. Jackson Tsui, president of WTCMAC, and Ms. Vong Sok Hei, Secretary-General of the World Trade Center Macau Arbitration Center (hereinafter referred to as “the Center”), were invited to attend the session.

In his opening address, Mr. Fan Shijie, Director-General of the Ministry of Commerce, stated that since the implementation of CEPA, China has adhered to the “One Country, Two Systems” principle, guided by institutional openness. The mainland has consistently relaxed market access restrictions for Macao and enhanced regulatory alignment between the two regions, thereby elevating the level of economic and trade cooperation. The latest CEPA amendments mark significant progress in expanding market access, promoting institutional innovation, and aligning regulatory standards. Mr. Fan emphasized the Ministry's commitment to fully implementing President Xi Jinping's key directives and supporting Macao in advancing high-quality development under the “One Country, Two Systems” framework.

Delivering remarks on behalf of the Macao SAR Government, Secretary for Economy and Finance Mr. Tai Kin Ip affirmed that CEPA has served as a cornerstone of economic and trade collaboration between the mainland and Macao since its signing in 2003. It has not only deepened integration and cooperation between the two regions but also provided strong support and expanded development opportunities for Macao enterprises entering the mainland market. He noted that the goal of the briefing was to enhance stakeholders’ understanding of Agreement II and that government departments would intensify promotion efforts to publicize CEPA policies through multiple channels. The SAR Government will continue working closely with national ministries to fully utilize CEPA and other central government support measures, accelerate the development of the Guangdong-Macao In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, participate in the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and jointly promote the high-quality development of trade in services, enhancing Macao’s role in China’s broader opening-up strategy.

More than 380 representatives from government departments, associations, chambers of commerce, and the business community attended the briefing. Officials from the Economic and Technological Development Bureau reviewed CEPA’s implementation and presented the key provisions of the revised Agreement II. Mainland ministries held thematic sessions on financial services, legal services, high-tech services, and other professional services, addressing industry concerns and helping Macao’s business sector better understand and capitalize on CEPA’s preferential measures.

With Agreement II coming into effect on 1 March, Secretary-General Ms. Vong Sok Hei of the WTC Macau Arbitration Center highlighted a significant update within the revised agreement: the explicit support for the concept of “Macao-funded enterprises applying Macao law and choosing Macao arbitration.” This policy allows Macao-invested enterprises registered in the Greater Bay Area’s nine mainland cities to select Hong Kong or Macao as the place of arbitration and to specify the application of Macao or Hong Kong law in commercial contracts. Ms. Wong emphasized that this presents a substantial opportunity to broaden the scope and influence of Macao’s arbitration services.