2024, which marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the 25th anniversary of Macau’s return to the motherland, has “special significance” for Macau, Zheng Xincong, director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macau Special Administrative Region (MSAR), said yesterday.
Zheng stressed: “We need to remember President Xi Jinping’s expectations… to widely gather the positive energies of Macau society, and to support the chief executive and the MSAR government in their governance in accordance with the law, capitalising on the new historic juncture and new opportunities to promote new development in all areas of Macau”.
Zheng made the remarks at the 2024 Spring Festival (as the Chinese New Year is officially known), reception held by the office yesterday at the Forum Macao Complex in Nam Van.
Zheng’s ‘four hopes’
Zheng put forward four hopes on achieving Macau’s new development, i.e., to firmly safeguard national security; to accelerate efforts to achieve the local economy’s appropriately diversified development; to continue to improve Macau’s capacity and level of governance; and to continuously consolidate the socio-political basis on the spirit of “Loving the Motherland and Loving Macau”.
In his speech, Zheng said he hoped that everyone would strengthen their awareness of national security, implement measures to safeguard it, promote the improvement of the relevant legal systems and enforcement mechanisms, and fight decisively against all acts detrimental to the nation’s sovereignty, security and development interests, making every effort to defend Macau’s hard-won prosperity and stability.
Zheng also expressed his hope that local citizens give full play to Macau’s “unique status and advantages”, deepen exchanges and cooperation with other countries and regions, actively participate in the nation’s major strategies such as the construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area (GBA) and the high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), accelerate the implementation of the government’s “1+4” development strategy which aims for appropriate economic diversification, “vigorously” promote the development of the Guangdong-Macau In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, and boost the transformation of Macau’s development momentum with a more open mind and pragmatic measures, fostering economic resilience and sustainable development capacity.
Zheng also said he hoped that everyone would firmly support the chief executive and the MSAR government in fulfilling their responsibilities, improving the governance system, increasing governance effectiveness, and constantly promoting better decision-making, more accurate governance and more effective public services, while, at the same time, further carrying forward the fine tradition of close cooperation and mutual aid between the government and patriotic associations, and emphasising the value of unity and consultation in order to reach a broader social consensus.
Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the MSAR Director Zheng Xincong delivers a speech during yesterday’s Spring Festival reception at the Services Platform Complex for Commercial and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (aka Forum Macao Complex) in Nam Van. – Photo courtesy of Liaison Office
Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng delivers a speech when addressing yesterday’s Spring Festival reception at Forum Macao Complex. – Photo: GCS
Ho vows to speed up appropriately diversified development
Addressing yesterday’s Spring Festival reception, Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng said that a number of major policies and measures in favour of Macau by the central government have provided strong support for Macau’s economic recovery, urban development, people’s livelihood development and the construction of the Guangdong-Macau In-depth Cooperation Zone, indicating an important foundation for the successful practice of “One Country, Two Systems” in Macau, and a good social environment and atmosphere for the development of various undertakings in the city.
He promised that the MSAR government will accelerate the implementation of the main tasks and priority projects defined in its “Plan for the Appropriately Diversified Development of Macau’s Economy”, pragmatically promoting the construction of the In-depth Cooperation Zone and the high-quality development of Macau’s economy.
The MSAR government, according to Ho, is also striving to continuously improve its quality of governance, increase efficiency and improve the well-being of residents, with the aims of increasing and better guaranteeing their sense of achievement, sense of happiness and sense of security.
“We will fully leverage Macau’s unique geographical and institutional advantages, actively participate in the construction of the Greater Bay Area, better integrate Macau into the nation’s overall development situation, and seize the opportunity to promote the new development of the MSAR in all areas,” said Ho.
The reception was attended by Macau’s first chief executive Edmund Ho Hau Wah, one of the vice-chairmen of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC). Foreign Ministry Commissioner Liu Xianfa and other high-ranking local and mainland officials also attended the reception along with about 1,200 guests.
