BEIJING – Xi Jinping today stressed upholding and improving the policy of "One Country, Two Systems".
"The policy of 'One Country, Two Systems' is a great innovation of socialism with Chinese characteristics. It has proven to be the best institutional arrangement for ensuring sustained prosperity and stability in Hong Kong and Macau after their return to the motherland," said Xi at the opening session of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing this morning.
"This policy must be adhered to over the long term," he said.
"We will fully, faithfully, and resolutely implement the policy of 'One Country, Two Systems', under which the people of Hong Kong administer Hong Kong and the people of Macau administer Macau, both with a high degree of autonomy. We will remain committed to law-based governance in Hong Kong and Macau," Xi said.
"We will ensure that the central government exercises overall jurisdiction over the two regions. We will see that Hong Kong and Macau are administered by patriots," he said.
"We will support Hong Kong and Macau in growing their economies, improving their people's lives, and resolving deep-seated issues and problems in economic and social development, and promote long-term prosperity and stability in the two special administrative regions," Xi said.
"We will support Hong Kong and Macau in better integrating themselves into China's overall development and playing a greater role in realizing national rejuvenation," he said.
Hong Kong and Macau reverted to the exercise of Chinese sovereignty in July 1997 and December 1999, respectively.
– Xinhua, MPD
Caption: Xi Jinping delivers a report to the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) on behalf of the 19th CPC Central Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing this morning. The seven-day congress opened today. – Xinhua
