New Year Message by Foreign Minister Commissioner Liu Xianfa
2022/12/31
Forging ahead on a new journey, writing a new chapter of development
Commissioner Liu Xianfa's 2023 New Year's Day Greetings
On the occasion of the new year, on behalf of the Commissioner's Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Macao Special Administrative Region (MSAR), I would like to extend my best wishes to all the compatriots in Macao, and express my sincere thanks to friends from all walks of life in the SAR for their enthusiastic concern and support for the work of the Commissioner's Office.
In 2022, the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) was successfully held, and a new Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core was elected. The grand blueprint points out the way forward. Under the strong leadership of the Party Central Committee, the entire Party and the people of all ethnic groups in the country are working hard, and are striving to write a more splendid chapter of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era with more firm historical confidence and historical initiative.
In 2022, under the personal planning and leadership of General Secretary Xi Jinping, major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics will be advanced in all directions, making innovations in the midst of century-old changes, solving difficulties in the world’s chaos, and achieving a series of fruitful results. "One major home-ground event, two major initiatives, and three major visits"* climaxed one after the other.
The diplomatic layout has been comprehensively deepened, and the global partnership of equality, openness and cooperation has been continuously expanded. The mission of a major country is fully demonstrated, firmly upholding fairness and justice, and cooperating to respond to global challenges. Resolutely oppose bullying by power, and resolutely defend national sovereignty, security, and development interests. The success of open cooperation is frequent, and the high-quality joint construction of the "Belt and Road" has benefited the world and achieved fruitful results. "Diplomacy for the People" puts heart and soul into writing vivid stories of "the motherland will take you home when you are in danger, even if the journey home is thousands of miles away".
In 2022, under the strong leadership of the Party Central Committee and the strong support of the mainland, the Macao SAR government united and led all sectors of society to gather their strength and forge ahead, earnestly study and implement the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, and maintain a good momentum of stable development in Macao. The revision of the National Security Law has been steadily advanced, and the legal system and enforcement mechanism for safeguarding national security have been further improved. The revision of gaming laws and the bidding for gaming concessions have been successfully completed, the construction of the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin has been solidly advanced, the appropriately diversified economic development has shown results, and integration into the overall development of the country has entered a new stage. A series of international activities such as the special ministerial meeting of the Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries and the International Infrastructure Investment Summit Forum were successfully held, strengthening the friendship between sister cities, achieving new results in exchanges with Portuguese-speaking countries and Southeast Asian countries, and reaching a new level in foreign exchanges and cooperation.
Supporting cooperation with the country's overall diplomacy to make new contributions
In 2022, the Commissioner's Office adhered to the comprehensive, accurate and unswerving implementation of the "One Country, Two Systems" policy, and performed its duties in strict accordance with the Constitution and the Basic Law. It actively publicized the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, and thoroughly promoted Xi Jinping's diplomatic thought. It gathered diplomatic resources and held a series of activities to help Macao transform and develop, and expand foreign exchanges and cooperation. It resolutely opposed external forces interfering in the affairs of the MSAR and resolutely defended the nation's interests. It practically implemented "diplomacy for the people" and "diplomacy to benefit Macao", introduced a visa facilitation policy for Hengqin, and continued to improve the quality of consular services and the level of consular protection. It solidly organized a raft of activities related to Macao-related foreign affairs, such as visiting the grassroots and entering campuses, enhanced the sense of home and country, international vision and global sentiments of young people in the MSAR.
2023 is the first year to fully implement the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China. The MSAR will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the promulgation of the Basic Law and the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries, bringing new opportunities for Macao-related diplomacy. Forging ahead on a new journey in the new era, the Commissioner's Office will be guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, especially Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy, give full play to Macao's unique advantages, and better support the MSAR in expanding and enhancing the functions of "one center, one platform, and one base". It will deepen more open and close exchanges and cooperation with other countries, especially with Portuguese-speaking countries and Southeast Asian countries, to help the moderately diversified economic development of the MSAR; conscientiously fulfill the responsibility of anti-interference and infiltration, and resolutely safeguard national security; tell the story of Macao and China, and building even wider domestic and foreign support for the "One Country, Two Systems" united front will create a good external environment for the prosperity, stability and long-term stability of Macao.
Boundless is the ocean where we sail with the wind. With the strong backing of the motherland and the great advantages of "One Country, Two Systems", we firmly believe that under the leadership of Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng and the joint efforts of all Macao compatriots, Macao will surely usher in a brighter tomorrow together with the great motherland! I wish the great motherland a bright future, wish the successful implementation of the "One Country, Two Systems" with Macao characteristics to write a new chapter, and wish the compatriots in Macao a happy new year and a happy and healthy family!
Text provided by the Commissioner's Office today. Translation arranged and edited by The Macau Post Daily.
*One major home-ground event: Beijing Winter Olympics; Two major initiatives: Global Development Initiative (GDI) and Global Security Initiative (GSI); three 2022 visits by President Xi: Central Asia, Southeast Asia, Middle East. – Explanatory note by The Macau Post Daily
Caption: Undated file photo of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China (PRC) in the Macao Special Administrative Region (MSAR), Liu Xianfa – Photo: Courtesy of MFAPRC
