Newly appointed Foreign Ministry Commissioner Liu Xianfa yesterday underlined the concept of “diplomacy for the people” and the need to “resolutely prevent and contain external forces from interfering in Macau’s affairs.”
Liu made the remarks in a speech at a reception hosted by his office at the Services Platform Complex for Commercial Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries in Nam Van.
According to a statement by the office, the reception was attended by nearly 500 guests including Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng, Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee Vice Chairman Edmund Ho Hau Wah and Central People’s Government Liaison Office in the Macau SAR Director Fu Ziying.
In his speech, Liu spoke highly of the contributions made by all sectors of the Macau Special Administrative Region (MSAR) to the development of the motherland and Macau. He noted that this year marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC), which is an epoch-making year in the process of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. “Under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, my country has achieved decisive success in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects,” Liu said, adding that the “14th Five-Year Plan” and the 2035 long-term goal outline have drawn a grand blueprint for economic and social development in the next 15 years for the 1.4 billion Chinese people.
Liu stressed that under the leadership of the CPC, the nation has “vigorously and confidently” embarked on a new journey of building a modern socialist country in an all-round way.
Liu also said that China’s diplomacy is standing at a new historical starting point, adding that “the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind proposed by General Secretary Xi Jinping has won more and more widespread understanding and support.”
Liu underlined that China’s circle of friends has continued to expand, the Belt and Road (B&R) project has continued to advance with high quality, and international anti-COVID-19 cooperation has achieved fruitful results.
“In this spring of sowing hope and inspiring progress, I was appointed to serve as commissioner, and I deeply feel that the mission is glorious and the responsibility is great,” Liu said about his recent posting to Macau.
According to a statement by his office, Liu also emphasised that “looking to the future, the blueprint for a new journey is drawn, and the time is right for new endeavours. On its new journey, Macau is bound to usher in more development opportunities, Macau’s unique advantages will be brought into full play, and the development prospects of Macau’s ‘One Country, Two Systems’ cause will certainly be brighter.”
Liu also said that facing the future, his office will be guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy, and President Xi Jinping’s instructions for Macau,” Liu said.
Liu also said: “We will fully and accurately implement the “One Country, Two Systems” policy, act in strict accordance with the Constitution and the Basic Law, resolutely prevent and contain external forces from interfering in Macau affairs, fully support Macau in expanding foreign exchanges, promote more international conferences and international events to be held in Macau, and continuously increase Macau’s international influence, adhere to the concept of ‘diplomacy for the people’, provide better and more considerate consular and consular protection services, make every effort to do a good job in public diplomacy and youth work, promote more talents from the MSAR to take up positions in international organisations…”.
Liu pledged: “We will work with people from all walks of life in the special zone to make new and greater contributions to the promotion of the cause of ‘One Country, Two Systems’ and major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics.”
In his speech at the reception, Ho Iat Seng praised the “positive and pragmatic diplomatic work” of the Office of the Foreign Ministry Commissioner in Macau and its contributions to the MSAR’s diplomatic exchanges, economic development, the great practice of ‘One Country, Two Systems’ with Macau characteristics, and the motherland’s diplomacy.”
According to the statement by Liu’s office, the atmosphere of the cocktail party was “warm, solemn and festive.”
Liu’s wife Li Ping also attended the reception, the statement pointed out.
Foreign Ministry Commissioner Liu Xianfa addresses yesterday’s reception at the Services Platform Complex for Commercial Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries in Nam Van hosted by his office. Photo: Office of the Commissioner of the Foreign Ministry of the PRC in the MSAR
