Firm confidence and courage to move forward
Striving to create "One Country, Two Systems" with Macao characteristics, practicing new situation
2023 New Year Message
Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Macao Special Administrative Region
Zheng Xincong
December 31, 2022
The Sun and the Moon open a new beginning, and everything on Earth opens a new chapter. The bell of 2023 is about to ring. At this beautiful moment of saying goodbye to the old and ushering in the new, on behalf of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Macao Special Administrative Region, I would like to extend New Year blessings and sincere greetings to all Macao compatriots!
2022 was an extremely important year in the history of the party and the country. The 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) was successfully held, drawing a grand blueprint for building a socialist modern country in an all-round way and promoting the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation with Chinese-style modernization, sounding the clarion call of the times for a new journey. Facing the turbulent international environment and the arduous tasks of domestic reform, development and stability, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core unites and leads the whole Party and the people of all ethnic groups to face difficulties and forge ahead, and coordinate the two major domestic and international situations, coordinating epidemic prevention and control with economic and social development, coordinating development and security, and maintaining overall economic and social stability. This year, China’s space station built its dream in the sky, the first large Chinese aircraft C919 was officially delivered, the aircraft carrier Fujian was launched, businesspeople gathered at the Import Expo, and the Beijing Winter Olympics and Paralympics were successfully held... the achievements of the Party and the country. It is not easy, and it is worth cherishing.
2022 was also an extraordinary year for Macao since the start of the epidemic. Under the strong leadership of the central government and the strong support of the mainland, Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng and the MSAR government united and led all walks of life to earnestly study and publicize the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, prevent the epidemic, stabilize recovery, protect people's livelihoods, promote diversity, strengthen cooperation, and seek development. Continuously improving the legal system and enforcement mechanism for safeguarding national security in the special administrative zone; successfully completing the revision of gaming laws and a new round of bidding for gaming concessions, solidly promoting the construction of the Hengqin Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone, and gradually implementing the "1+4" appropriately diversified economic development strategy; overcoming the practical difficulties caused by a sharp decrease in fiscal revenue, and maintaining regular welfare expenditures for residents. New progress has been made in housing, medical care, and education, and various people's livelihood undertakings; the successful election of Macao's deputies to the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) has continuously consolidated the social and political foundation of patriotism and love for Macao.
Not long ago, President Xi Jinping fully affirmed the work of the chief executive and the MSAR government when he met with Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng, who went to Beijing for his [annual] duty visit, and emphasized that the central government will fully, accurately and unswervingly implement the "One Country, Two Systems" policy, and fully support the MSAR to fully give full play to its own advantages and characteristics, strive to create a new situation in the practice of "One Country, Two Systems" with Macao characteristics, and make new and greater contributions to the comprehensive building of a modern socialist country. President Xi Jinping's earnest entrustment has placed ardent expectations on the development of Macao, pointed out the direction for Macao's future, and greatly enhanced the confidence of the majority of Macao compatriots to overcome difficulties and resume development.
Looking back on 2022, the central government fully understands the conditions of the people of Macao, and will give Macao all-round support in terms of infrastructure construction, important livelihood tasks, appropriately diversified economic development, and the construction and development of the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin. 2023 is the first year to fully implement the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China. President Xi Jinping pointed out in his New Year's speech that "if we unswervingly implement 'One Country, Two Systems', Hong Kong and Macau will surely enjoy long-term prosperity and stability." A good start to the year, further increased confidence and energy. We believe that under the strong leadership of the central government, all walks of life in Macao will uphold the mainstream values of patriotism and love for Macao, firmly support the chief executive and the MSAR government in governing according to law, and further implement the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China and the series of important speeches and instructions of President Xi Jinping , resolutely safeguard national sovereignty, security, and development interests, implement the MSAR’s legal system and enforcement mechanism for safeguarding national security, resolutely crack down on anti-China forces disrupting Macao, and resolutely prevent and curb external forces from interfering in Macao’s affairs; give full play to Macao’s advantages and characteristics, firmly seize the major opportunities in the construction of the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), and vigorously promote the appropriately diversified development of Macau's economy; strictly implement the new gaming law, strengthen the regulations and supervision of the gaming industry, and promote the healthy and orderly development of the gaming industry in accordance with the law; strengthen people-oriented thinking, sense of responsibility and enterprising spirit, and continuously improve overall governance capabilities and governance levels; vigorously cultivate and introduce talents to add greater vitality to Macao's development; better coordinate epidemic prevention and control and economic and social development, and continue to adapt to the times and circumstances, optimizing and adjusting the epidemic prevention and control measures to achieve a smooth peak and overall social stability; further promote patriotism and love for Macao, gather the wisdom and strength of the whole society, and jointly create a better tomorrow for Macao.
"Struggle creates miracles", "Strength comes from unity".
The blueprint draws a new era, and the tide of Haojiang [one of Macao's ancient names] writes a new chapter. Embarking on a new journey full of glory and dreams, the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Macao Special Administrative Region will, as always, fulfill its duties, firmly support the chief executive and the government of the Macao Special Administrative Region in governing in accordance with the law, join hands with all walks of life in Macao and the vast number of Macao compatriots, strengthen confidence and face difficulties , help each other in times of trouble, unite as one, promote Macao's economic and social development to take new steps and achieve new leaps, strive to create a new situation in the practice of "One Country, Two Systems" with Macao characteristics, and work hard to comprehensively build a socialist modern country and comprehensively promote the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation!
– Original Chinese text of the message provided by the Central People's Government Liaison Office in the MSAR today. Translation and editing by The Macau Post Daily
Caption: Undated file photo of Central People's Government Liaison Office in the MSAR Director Zheng Xincong, provided by his office today.
