During yesterday’s meeting with Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng, who is on a duty visit to Beijing, President Xi Jinping said that the central authorities fully acknowledge the work that Ho and the local government have done, Xinhua reported yesterday.
According to Xinhua, Xi also underlined that the central authorities will continue to fully support Ho and the Macau Special Administrative Region (MSAR) in carrying out their work enabling Macau to “embrace” the 25th anniversary of its return to the motherland next year with “new development achievements”.
The term “central authorities” encompass the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the State Council (informally known as central government). Apart from being president of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), Xi is also general secretary of the Central Committee of the CPC and chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC).
Ho travelled to Beijing on Sunday for his annual duty visit. Ho is scheduled to return to Macau today, the eve of the 24th anniversary of the establishment of the MSAR.
During yesterday’s meeting, the Xinhua report said, Xi listened to a report from Ho on Macau’s current situation and the local government’s work.
According to Xinhua, Xi said that over the past year, Ho has led the MSAR government in diligently performing its duties, praising Ho and his government for exercising governance in a “pragmatic” way.
Praising Macau for having completed the amendments to its Law on Safeguarding National Security, Xi noted that Ho has also led the MSAR government in steadily advancing amendments to the Chief Executive Election Law and the Legislative Assembly Election Law, Xinhua said.
Under Ho’s leadership, the MSAR government has strengthened the management of the city’s gaming industry in accordance with the law and completed drawing up Macau’s first comprehensive official plan for its appropriate economic diversification drive, Xi said.
According to Xinhua, Xi also said that the local government has made new achievements in promoting the development of the Guangdong-Macau In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, apart from continuing to expand Macau’s exchanges and cooperation with other parts in the world.
Macau has achieved a speedy economic recovery while social harmony and stability have been maintained, Xi said, adding that the central authorities fully acknowledge Ho and the MSAR government’s work.
During the meeting, according to Xinhua, Xi also underlined that people across the nation have embarked on a new journey to comprehensively promote the construction of a strong country and the great cause of national rejuvenation through Chinese-style modernisation.
Xi told Ho that the central authorities will continue to fully, accurately and unswervingly implement the “One Country, Two Systems” principle and fully implement the “patriots governing Macau” principle, Xinhua said.
The central authorities will continue to fully support Ho and the local government in uniting and leading people from all sectors of civil society in grasping the “historic” opportunities created by the nation’s development, continuously promoting the successful implementation of the “One Country, Two Systems” principle with Macau characteristics, and embracing next year’s 25th anniversary of Macau’s return to the motherland with new development achievements.
Yesterday’s meeting was also attended by Premier Li Qiang. This year is the first time that Ho delivered his work report to the country’s president and premier during a single meeting. Previously, the country’s president and premier heard the work reports by the chief executives of the Hong Kong and Macau special administrative regions in separate meetings on their duty visits to the nation’s capital.
For instance, when Ho was on a duty visit to Beijing in December last year, Ho met Xi and the nation’s then premier Li Keqiang separately.
Ho’s stresses Xi’s ‘important’ instructions
Meanwhile, according to a statement by the Macau Government Information Bureau (GCS) last night, Ho said during yesterday’s meeting that Xi’s “important” instructions have provided the right directions for Macau’s continuous development. Ho pledged that the local government will unite people from various segments of civil society in studying the spirit of Xi’s important instructions.
According to the GCS statement, Ho also pledged during the meeting that his government will work hard to solve the “deep-rooted” problems that are hindering Macau’s socioeconomic development.
Ho said that the local government will ensure the good organisation of its various events next year in celebration of the 25th anniversary of its return to the motherland, with the aim of showcasing the achievements and prospects of the “One Country, Two Systems” principle as well as Macau’s unique status and advantages.
Portugal returned Macau to Chinese administration on December 19, 1999, after which the MSAR was established on the following day. The PRC never recognised foreign countries’ sovereignty over Hong Kong and Macau.
The PRC will celebrate the 75th anniversary of its founding on October 1 next year.
President Xi Jinping (right) shakes hands with Macau Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng during their meeting in Beijing yesterday.
– Photo: Xinhua
