Foreign Ministry Commissioner Liu Xianfa underlined yesterday Macau’s growing role on the international stage and praised the special administrative region’s positive contributions to the nation’s overall diplomacy.
Liu made the remarks in a speech at a seminar hosted by the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in the Macau Special Administrative Region (MSAR) at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Nape.
The seminar commemorated the 50th anniversary of the restoration of the People’s Republic of China’s legal seat in the United Nations.
Liu, who holds a doctorate in Management Science and is a former assistant foreign minister, pointed out that Macau has an over four-century-long history of exchanges between China and the West. He also underlined that multiple cultures coexist in Macau and emphasised the important role that Macau is playing in further strengthening cooperation between China and the United Nations.
Liu pointed out that since its return to the motherland in 1999, Macau has continuously expanded its foreign exchanges and cooperation. He singled out the importance of Macau’s UNESCO World Heritage listing and its status as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy, as well as the participation of a WHO-certified emergency medical team from Macau in anti-COVID-19 efforts in Africa. He also underlined that various community organisations from Macau such as the Women’s General Association of Macau (Fu Luen) and Macau Youth Federation (MYF) have obtained UN consultation status.
Liu, who was posted to Macau last year, predicted that Macau’s influence on the international stage will further expand. He also praised Macau for playing an important role in the successful practice of the “One Country, Two Systems” principle. He also mentioned Macau’s significant position as “one centre, one platform and one base” and its commitment to implementing the General Plan for the Construction of the Guangdong-Macau In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin.
Liu also said that Macau’s socio-economic development was at an important starting point. He said he expected Macau to combine the nation’s needs with its own strengths and also to combine the nation’s support with its own efforts, thereby giving full play to the advantages of “One Country, Two Systems” as well as its civil society, geographic location and external relations. He said he also expected Macau to continue making contributions to the construction of a community of human destiny and to help raise the country’s cooperation with the United Nations to a new level. He also said that he expected Macau to make even greater progress in the successful practice of “One Country, Two Systems” with its own characteristics.
In his speech, Liu also pointed out that the world has entered a period of turbulent change and that more than ever, the international community needs to join hands to respond to challenges and achieve common development, adding that the international community also needs to practise true multilateralism and firmly support the United Nations to play a key role in promoting the construction of a community of human destiny.
Liu reaffirmed that China has always attached great importance to cooperation with the United Nations and has always been a staunch a supporter and contributor to the cause of the United Nations.
Xi’s important speech at UNGA
Liu reminded his audience that when President Xi Jinping addressed the 76th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) last month, he was adamant that there is only one system in the world, which is the international system with the United Nations as its core, and there is only one order, which is the international order based on international law, and there is only set of rules, which are the basic norms of international relations based on the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter.
Liu emphasised that President Xi’s important remarks demonstrated China’s solemn commitment to upholding true multilateralism, and also demonstrated the responsibility of a major country to promote the development of the global governance system in a more just and reasonable direction, as well as its firm support for the status and role of the United Nations.
According to a statement by the commissioner’s office, about 70 people attended the seminar including Secretary for Administration and Justice André Cheong Weng Chon, Liaison Office Deputy Director Yan Zhichan and Deputy Commissioner Wang Dong of the Foreign Ministry Commission in Macau.
Foreign Ministry Commissioner Liu Xianfa addresses yesterday’s seminar which commemorated the 50th anniversary of the restoration. of the legal seat of the People’s Republic of China in the United Nations. The seminar took place at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Nape. Photo: MPDG
