Megatrend Revija (Jan 2019)
Macau's bridging role between China and Latin America
Abstract
Since the beginning of the 21st century, sustained and rapid growth in relations between China and the Latin American and Caribbean countries has been witnessed. It is widely believed that a stronger tie with a promising future can be envisaged. Historically, Macau has been a Portuguese trading post in the Far East for over 442 years. After the Handover in 1999, Macau was officially returned to China as a Special Administrative Region. At present, Macau is the "world's top gaming capital" and a part of the Greater Bay Area of national strategic importance in southern China. By capitalizing on her core strengths and special privileges, Macau can go much further, not only as a gaming and tourism city but also an effective and efficient platform between China and Latin America. Furthermore, with the new mega structure, the vast logistic network and the endorsed Greater Bay Area initiative, Macau can serve as an effective soft-power hub of the nation for helping build an extension of the "Belt and Road" to Latin America in the Pacific Rim.
