President Xi Jinping yesterday raised three expectations for Macau so that the special administrative region can make greater development achievements: embracing a broader vision, embracing diversity and inclusiveness, and continuing to forge ahead with resolve.
Xi, who is on his three-day inspection visit in Macau until today, also commended Macau for its achievements over the past five “extraordinary” years while delivering a speech during a welcome banquet held by the local government yesterday evening marking the 25th Anniversary of Macau’s return to the motherland today.
The dinner held at the Macau East Asian Games Dome in Cotai was attended by about 600 guests.
Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, entered the banquet hall at around 6:15 p.m., accompanied by outgoing Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng and his wife, Cheng Soo Ching.
Yesterday was Ho’s last day at the helm of the local government.
Ho is succeeded by Sam Hou Fai today who alongside his principal officials and chief public prosecutor will be sworn in by Xi this morning.
Sam becomes the Macau Special Administrative Region’s (MSAR) sixth-term and fourth chief executive today, the 25th Anniversary of the establishment of the MSAR.
In his speech at yesterday’s banquet, Xi noted that the past five years have been “extraordinary” in the history of Macau’s development. Against the background of accelerating global transformation not seen in a century and the once-in-a-century pandemic, Xi said, the fifth-term MSAR government led by Ho has rallied and led all sectors of Macau’s civil society to rise to the challenges, made results-orientated efforts, ensured a steady economic recovery and achieved progress in all undertakings.
Macau has written a new chapter in the successful implementation of the “One Country, Two Systems” principle with Macau characteristics, Xi said.
4 major achievements
In his speech, Xi listed Macau’s four major achievements over the past five years.
Firstly, Xi said, Macau has made new progress in its appropriate economic diversification. With its gaming industry developing in a healthy and orderly manner in accordance with the law, Xi said, Macau, as a world-class tourism and leisure centre, continues to offer new services, and major emerging industries are booming.
Xi praised Macau for actively participating in the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area (GBA), adding that the Macau-Hengqin integration is deepening where the level of physical connectivity of infrastructure and institutional connectivity of rules is increasing.
Macau now enjoys a stronger foundation and broader space for its economic development, Xi said.
Secondly, Xi said, Macau has reached a new level in improving its people’s well-being. To meet the practical needs of its residents, Xi noted, Macau has increased spending on improving their well-being and taken solid steps on the ground to deliver tangible benefits to residents in areas that directly impact their lives, including housing, healthcare, education, and elderly care.
With public well-being better secured and social undertakings making all-round progress, Xi said, Macau has become a pleasant and favourable place to live and work in.
Thirdly, Xi said, Macau’s political and social foundation, rooted in love for the nation and love for Macau, is more solid and stronger.
Xi said that Macau’s laws and institutional mechanisms for safeguarding national security have been improved, while its residents’ rights, including democracy, human rights and freedoms, remain fully protected.
Xi said that Macau has strengthened its public education of the Constitution, the MSAR Basic Law, the national conditions and history, and the national security. Consequently, Xi said, people of all sectors in Macau now have a stronger sense of national identity and cherish deep feelings for the nation as much as they love their family.
Fourthly, Xi said, Macau’s international influence and visibility have risen significantly.
Xi said that solid progress has been made in establishing Macau as “One Centre, One Platform, One Base”, while Macau’s exchange and cooperation with Portuguese-speaking countries have become closer.
Xi said that Macau’s remarkable achievements made over the past five years are attributable to the full and faithful implementation of the “One Country, Two Systems” principle, to the vigorous support of the central government and the mainland, and to the active involvement of the international community.
The achievements are also the result of the hard work and all-out efforts of people from all sectors in Macau united under the leadership of the MSAR government, Xi said.
Macau enjoys the unique advantages of the “One Country, Two Systems” principle and has laid a solid foundation for its development, Xi noted.
Thanks to the nation’s development, Xi said, Macau is blessed with opportunities and abilities to soar higher and make greater development achievements.
3 expectations
Xi raised three expectations for Macau so that the special administrative region can make greater development achievements.
Firstly, Xi said he hoped that Macau will embrace a broader vision.
Xi said that Macau should proactively align itself with national development strategies such as the GBA development and seek to play a bigger role on the international stage.
Secondly, Xi said he hoped that Macau will embrace diversity and inclusiveness.
Xi said that Macau should uphold the underlying values of love for the nation and love for Macau while embracing greater openness, inclusiveness and solidarity, and work to attract the best minds to jointly build a better Macau.
Thirdly, Xi said he hoped that Macau will continue to forge ahead with resolve.
Xi said that Macau needs to demonstrate stronger resolve and greater courage in reform and innovation, as well as leveraging the institutional strengths brought about by the implementation of the “One Country, Two Systems” principle with the aim of breaking new ground in its development.
Ho said in his speech that Macau should make greater contributions to building China into a stronger country and achieving the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
Ho expressed his firm belief that the sixth-term chief executive, Sam Hou Fai, will lead the new government and all sectors of Macau to write a new chapter in the practice of the “One Country, Two Systems” principle with Macau characteristics.
President Xi Jinping delivers a speech during yesterday evening’s banquet hosted by the local government at the Macau East Asian Games Dome in Cotai. – Photo: Xinhua
