Shi Taifeng, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and head of the United Front Work Department (UFWD) of the CPC Central Committee, visited Macau for a two-day investigation and research tour, which ended on Sunday, during which he praised Macau for being an exemplar of the successful implementation of the “One Country, Two Systems” principle, the Macau Government Information Bureau (GCS) announced in a statement yesterday.
The statement said that during his two-day fact-finding tour, Shi, also a vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), had a meeting with Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng, during which they exchanged views on studying and implementing the spirit of the third plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, which was held in Beijing from July 15 to 18, as well as views on various other topics.
During his meeting with Ho, according to the GCS statement, Shi, 67, said that in the past 25 years since its return to the motherland, Macau has been maintaining continuous economic development and social harmony and stability where residents live and work in peace and contentment.
Shi, who is also the executive vice president of the China Council for the Promotion of Peaceful National Reunification, said that the “One Country, Two Systems” cause is moving forward, the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area (GBA) is forging ahead, and the Guangdong-Macau In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin is undergoing rapid changes, adding that Macau is now standing at a new historical starting point.
According to the statement, Shi noted that the third plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee made strategic plans for further deepening reform comprehensively to advance Chinese modernisation, thereby providing new major opportunities for Macau’s development, adding he believes that Macau will definitely have a better future.
According to the statement, Ho said that Shi’s investigation and research trip highlighted the central authorities’ concern and care for Macau.
Ho said that Macau has been maintaining prosperity and stability since its return to the motherland during which the implementation of the “One Country, Two Systems” principle has been steady and enduring.
Ho noted that the central government rolled out a string of measures favourable to Macau’s development earlier this year, because of which Macau has been able to work with an increasingly better development landscape.
Ho underlined that the local government is pragmatically promoting Macau’s appropriate economic diversification drive in line with its 1+4 plan and the development of the Guangdong-Macau In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, as well as actively integrating the city into nation’s overall development.
According to the statement, Ho noted that the third plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee last month adopted the Resolution of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Further Deepening Reform Comprehensively to Advance Chinese Modernisation, systematically planning a string of strategic and overall major reform measures, which, Ho said, has provided the right direction for the nation’s high-quality development and strategic planning, as well as important guidance for Macau to maintain its sustainable development and long-term prosperity and stability.
Ho noted that according to the third plenary session’s resolution, the central authorities will continue to give full play to the institutional advantages of the “One Country, Two Systems” principle and support Hong Kong and Macau in developing themselves into hubs for international high-end talents, i.e., highly-qualified professionals.
Ho noted that according to the resolution, the central authorities will continue to deepen cooperation within the GBA where the integration of regulations between Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau will be strengthened, as well as improve the systems for promoting economic and cultural exchanges and cooperation between the mainland and the Taiwan region.
Consequently, Ho said, Macau must make further contributions to meeting the country’s needs by studying and implementing well the spirit of the third plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee.
According to yesterday’s GCS statement, during his two-day fact-finding visit to Macau, Shi had meetings with a number of community leaders, accompanied by Secretary for Administration and Justice André Cheong Weng Chon, Secretary for Economy and Finance Lei Wai Nong, and Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Elsie Ao Ieong U.
Shi is also the secretary for the CPC Secretariat.
After leaving Macau, Shi visited Hong Kong for a fact-finding tour where he met with its chief executive John Lee Ka-chiu yesterday, according to a statement by the Hong Kong government yesterday.
According to Hong Kong media reports yesterday, Shi will deliver a speech at the Overseas Chinese World Conference for Promoting Peaceful Reunification of China at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) today.
This handout photo released by the Macau Government Information Bureau (GCS) yesterday shows Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng (right) meeting with Shi Taifeng, head of the United Front Work Department (UFWD) of the CPC Central Committee, at Santa Sancha Guesthouse on Penha Hill during Shi’s two-day fact-finding tour of Macau on Saturday and Sunday.
