Without the Communist Party of China (CPC) there would be no New China, and without the Party’s leadership there would be no prosperous and stable Macau under the “One Country, Two Systems” principle, Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng said yesterday.
Ho made the remarks in a speech at the opening ceremony of a photo exhibition in celebration of the 100th Anniversary of the Founding of the Communist Party of China at the China-Portuguese-speaking Countries Commercial and Trade Service Platform Complex in Nam Van. The large-scale exhibition runs until July 15.
“History is the best textbook,” Ho said about the Party’s “100 years of continuous struggle to unite and lead the Chinese people to accomplish world-renowned achievements in the history of the development of the Chinese nation and the progress of human society.”
Looking back on history, Ho said, “We can see that the CPC… has been the fundamental guarantee for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation,” adding that over the past 100 years the Party “has realised the Chinese people’s great leap from standing up, getting rich and getting stronger.”
Ho quoted President Xi Jinping as saying that having the CPC in power is a great blessing for the Chinese people and the Chinese nation.
The chief executive, a former member of the elite Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC), also said that without the Party’s leadership China would not have been able to achieve what it is today, and neither would it have achieved the international status that it has today.
Ho said the exhibition aims to show the great contributions that the Party has made to the Chinese people, the nation and the world. He also said that Macau residents, young people in particular, needed to gain an in-depth understanding of the Party’s century-long struggle as this would strengthen their patriotism and further enhance their sense of national identity.
Ho underlined the importance for Macau residents to consolidate their sense of belonging to the motherland and their pride of being Chinese.
Ho also pointed out that the successful resumption of the nation’s exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong and Macau in 1997 and 1999 respectively “cleared away the centuries of humiliation for the Chinese nation,” adding that the CPC “is the pioneer, leader, practitioner and defender of the cause of the ‘One Country, Two Systems’ principle in Macau.”
Ho stressed that “we must realise that supporting and maintaining the leadership of the CPC is the basis for the successful practice of the ‘One Country, Two Systems’ principle in Macau.”
The chief executive, who has been at the helm of the local government since December 2019, also underlined the Party’s “unwavering determination to seek happiness for the Chinese people and achieve the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.”
Ho also said that the Macau Special Administrative Region (MSAR) will “unswervingly implement the principle of ‘Patriots Governing Macau’ and continue to consolidate the social and political foundations of ‘Loving the Country and Loving Macau’.”
Ho, an ex-president of the local legislature and former business community leader, also said that “our country is closer to the goal of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation than at any time in history,” adding: “We firmly believe that under the strong leadership of the CPC, the cause of the ‘One Country, Two Systems’ with Macau characteristics will surely proceed steadily and go far.”
We must always adhere to Party’s leadership: Fu
Meanwhile, Central People’s Government Liaison Office in the MSAR Director Fu Ziying stressed in his speech that “in Macau society, we must always adhere to the leadership of the CPC and resolutely defend the nation’s sovereignty, security and development interests.”
Fu, the central government’s highest-ranked official posted to Macau, also said that “we must draw a clear line” between patriotic forces and separatist forces seeking independence for Hong Kong and Taiwan by resolutely opposing them
Fu also said that history is the best textbook, adding that the history of the CPC “is the most epic chapter in China’s modern history.”
Fu emphasised that “history has chosen the CPC” to lead the nation. He pointed out that after the Opium War in 1840, the old China fell into an abyss of suffering. However, since the founding of the CPC 100 years ago, Fu pointed out, the Chinese people have overcome their passive spirit by replacing it with an active one, “and [thereby] the Chinese nation has embarked on its difficult but irreversible great revival.”
Fu also said that the Party is determined to ensure that the “One Country, Two Systems” principle will not be deformed, adding that the practice of the principle “has withstood the test of time and achieved great success, and it will continue to write colourful chapters.”
Fu also said that efforts should be made to maintain in the local community the core value of “Loving the Country and Loving Macau” and ensure the implementation of the fundamental principle of “Patriots Governing Macau.
Foreign Ministry Commissioner Liu Xianfa, Macau People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Garrison Commander Senior Colonel Xu Liangcai and the deputy director of the Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan Information Department of the State Council Information Office, Xie Yingjun, attended the opening ceremony.
Ho, Fu, Liu, Xu and Xie were given a guided tour of the exhibition.
Dozens of senior officials of the local government and civic leaders were also present.
Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng delivers a speech at yesterday’s opening ceremony of a photo exhibition celebrating the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC), at the China-Portuguese-speaking Countries and Trade Service Platform Complex in Nam Van. Photo: GCS
Central People’s Government Liaison Office in the Macau SAR Director Fu Ziying delivers a speech at yesterday’s opening ceremony of a photo exhibition celebrating the 100th anniversary of the founding of the CPC Photo: GCS
Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng (from right to left), Liaison Office Director Fu Ziying, Foreign Ministry Commissioner Liu Xianfa, Macau PLA Garrison Commander Senior Colonel Xu Liangcai and Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan Information Department of the State Council Information Office Deputy Director Xie Yingjun visit the exhibition yesterday. Photo: GCS
