The new commissioner of the Foreign Ministry in Macau, Liu Xianfa, has praised the special administrative region's "great achievements" since its establishment in 1999 and the local government's "effective" measures to prevent and control COVID-19.
Liu made the remarks during a meeting with Macau Special Administrative Region (MSAR) Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng at Government Headquarters on Friday, two days after his arrival here, according to a statement by the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the MSAR.
Liu's appointment was announced by the central government on February 18. He replaced Shen Beili who became a vice-minister of the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) last year. Since Shen's return to Beijing, the local office had been headed by Wang Dong as its acting commissioner.
Prior to his posting to Macau Liu was an assistant minister at the Foreign Ministry. He worked in senior positions for China Petrochemical Corporation (Sinopec) and China National Petroleum Corporation before embarking on a diplomatic career in 2011 which included a string of overseas postings such as deputy consul-general in Los Angeles, consul-general in Lagos and ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to Kenya, as well as permanent representative to the United Nations Environment Programme and permanent representative to the United Nations Human Settlements Programme
Liu, 57, stressed during his meeting with Ho that his office would continue to "resolutely implement President Xi Jinping's important instructions" concerning Macau's external relations. He also said that his office would "earnestly safeguard national sovereignty", actively support the MSAR's external exchanges and cooperation, and "create a good external environment for the long-term prosperity and stability of Macau."
Newly appointed Foreign Ministry Commissioner Liu Xianfa (left) shakes hands with Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng during a meeting at Government Headquarters on Friday. Photo: GCS
