Zheng Xincong, director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macau Special Administrative Region (MSAR), said on Tuesday in a speech at the opening ceremony of Macau’s 8th National Security Education Exhibition, it was imperative to enhance Macau’s capacity to safeguard national security, while ensuring high-level security through high-quality development.
Zheng is the highest official of the Central People’s Government posted in Macau.
National Security Education Day is observed annually on April 15 to raise public awareness of national security issues and encourage greater civic involvement in safeguarding the country.
Jointly hosted by the MSAR government and the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the MSAR, the one-month exhibition presents over 500 photographs and several videos to showcase the country’s latest achievements in national security work and those over the past decade.
Zheng stated in his speech that since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), guided by the scientific perspective of overall national security, China has embarked on a national security path with Chinese characteristics. The modernisation level of the national security system and its capabilities has significantly improved, achieving historic accomplishments in national security work.
The country’s economic strength, technological power, and comprehensive national power continue to strengthen, marking a new solid step in the construction of Chinese-style modernisation. At the same time, the world is undergoing unprecedented changes, and the tasks of national reform, development, and stability are grown heavier.
The risks and challenges we face and the contradictions we need to resolve are more severe and complex than ever. We must maintain a clear mind, firmly establish bottom-line thinking, calmly respond to risks, and continuously advance the modernisation of the national security system and capabilities.
Zheng also pointed out that Tuesday marked the 10th “National Security Education Day.” Over the past decade, the Macau Special Administrative Region has adhered to the concept that maintaining national security is solely the responsibility of “One Country,” without being separated from “Two Systems.” It has continuously made efforts and deepened its initiatives in national security education, achieving notable results characterised by wide coverage, diverse forms, and significant effectiveness.
The awareness among Macau residents to consciously safeguard national security and maintain social stability has been continuously strengthened, and the social and political foundation for maintaining national security has been consistently solidified, allowing Macau to maintain a stable and harmonious situation.
Currently, Macau is experiencing its best period of development, but external influences and some deep-rooted contradictions and problems in its economic and social development pose significant challenges to maintaining national security and social stability.
Particularly since the beginning of this year, the United States has persistently wielded the tariff stick, repeatedly imposing high tariffs on China, seriously violating international trade rules and significantly impacting the stability of the global economic order, which is a clear act of unilateral bullying and coercion.
In response, we must maintain strategic composure and fully recognise that China has an enormous domestic market, the most complete industrial chain in the world, an ever-expanding international “circle of friends,” significant institutional advantages in concentrating efforts to tackle major issues, and over a billion hardworking, resilient, and patriotic compatriots.
Furthermore, we possess the profound cultural heritage of over 5,000 years of Chinese civilisation. We must be confident of victory, focus on managing our own affairs well, and strive to build an even more unbreakable national security barrier, better achieving a positive interaction between high-level security and high-quality development.
To this end, Zheng proposed: First, to fully implement the spirit of President Xi Jinping’s important speeches on Macau ’s maintenance of national security and firmly establish the overall national security concept; second, to continuously improve Macau ’s legal system and enforcement mechanisms for maintaining national security, comprehensively advancing the construction of Macau ’s national security system and capabilities; third, to concentrate efforts on economic development, seeking growth and construction, ensuring high-level security through high-quality development.
Zheng emphasised that there are no “outsiders” in maintaining national security; everyone should consciously participate. Every Macau resident should be a positive force in maintaining harmony and stability and in building Macau. He said he hopes that the broad masses of Macau residents will continue to work together to build a beautiful home in Macau, promoting the successful practice of the “One Country, Two Systems” principle with Macau characteristics to achieve stability and durability, contributing their share to the construction of a strong nation and national rejuvenation.
Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai also addressed the opening ceremony, which was held at the Forum Macao complex in Nam Van. The exhibition runs through May 15.
N.B. While the abridged Chinese text of the speech was supplied by the Macau Government Information Bureau (GCS) on Tuesday, The Macau Post Daily arranged its English translation yesterday.
Zheng Xincong, Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office of the State Council, Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the MSAR, and National Security Affairs Adviser of the Committee for Safeguarding National Security of the MSAR, delivers a speech at the opening ceremony of the 2025 National Security Education Exhibition at the Forum Macao complex on Tuesday. – Photo: GCS
