The Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macau Special Administrative Region (MSAR) hosted its annual Spring Festival reception yesterday, where Liaison Office Director Zheng Xincong raised, in his speech, four requirements for Macau, namely achieving new breakthroughs in appropriate economic diversification, taking new steps in enhancing governance effectiveness, presenting new outlooks in strengthening patriotism, and demonstrating new achievements in safeguarding national security and social stability.
Yesterday’s Spring Festival reception was held at the Services Platform Complex for Commercial and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (aka Forum Macao Complex) in Sai Van.
In addition to Zheng, the reception was attended by Edmund Ho Hau Wah, Macau’s first chief executive and now a vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai, Sam’s predecessor Ho Iat Seng, newly arrived Foreign Ministry Commissioner Bian Lixin, Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Macau Garrison Commander Yu Changjiang, PLA Macau Garrison Commissar Lin Qinghua, the three incumbent deputy directors of the Liaison Office, Huang Liuquan, Lyu Yuyin and Zhang Yingjie, Macau Legislative Assembly (AL) President André Cheong Weng Chon, and Macau Court of Final Appeal (TUI) President Song Man Lei.
In addition to the dignitaries, the reception, according to a statement by the Liaison Office, was attended by around 1,300 members of Macau’s civil society, including top officials of the local government, local lawmakers, members of the local government’s top advisory Executive Council, Macau deputies to the National People’s Congress (NPC), Macau members of the CPPCC National Committee, as well as members from various segments of civil society.
Zheng acknowledges Macau’s achievements
In his speech, Zheng noted that last year was an extraordinary one for Macau, during which Sam united and led the new-term MSAR government and all sectors of civil society in earnestly implementing the spirit of President Xi Jinping’s various important speeches delivered during his inspection visit to Macau in December 2024.
Zheng said that the “patriots governing Macau” principle was fully implemented, while the election of the MSAR’s eighth-term Legislative Assembly (AL) was held smoothly last year, acknowledging Macau’s resolute and effective efforts to safeguard national security, thanks to which the city’s overall social harmony and stability was maintained.
Zheng also outlined other aspects of achievements Macau made last year, including the acceleration of its appropriate economic diversification, the new progress made in the development of the Guangdong-Macau In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, a record number in visitor arrivals (40.069 million), the in-depth advancement of public administrative reform, and the continuous enhancement of governance effectiveness.
In particular, Zheng said, the joint hosting of the 15th National Games by Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macau with shared commitment, as well as the united and effective response by the local government and all sectors of civil society to Super Typhoon “Ragasa” last year, vividly demonstrated Macau’s profound foundation of patriotism and love for Macau and its fine tradition of unity and mutual assistance.
Robust vitality of ‘One Country, Two Systems’
Zheng said that all the achievements Macau made last year were the results of the central government’s strong support as well as the joint hard work and dedication of the local government and all residents, fully demonstrating the institutional advantages and robust vitality of the “One Country, Two Systems” principle.
Zheng noted that as a pearl in the palm of the motherland, Xi has always kept in mind the development of Macau and the well-being of all its residents, pointing out that when hearing Sam’s work report in December last year, Xi raised clear requirements for the MSAR government to proactively align with the nation’s 15th Five-Year Plan, uphold and improve its executive-led governance, solidly advance Macau’s appropriate economic diversification, continuously enhance its governance effectiveness, and better integrate into and serve the nation’s overall development.
Zheng also noted that in his 2026 New Year’s address, Xi stressed the need to unswervingly implement the “One Country, Two Systems” principle, and support Hong Kong and Macau in better integrating into the nation’s overall development and maintaining long-term prosperity and stability, adding that Xi’s remarks have given the direction for Macau to advance its development with courage.
Zheng noted that this year marks the beginning of the nation’s 15th Five-Year Plan, urging Macau’s civil society to keep firmly in mind Xi’s earnest instructions and work hard to enable the city to “soar higher and reach further”.
Zheng’s 4 requirements
In his speech, Zheng raised four requirements for Macau this year.
First, Zheng urged Macau to achieve new breakthroughs in advancing its appropriate economic diversification. Promoting appropriate economic diversification, Zheng said, is a “must-answer question” for Macau and must be pursued unswervingly. Macau should proactively align with the nation’s 15th Five-Year Plan, draw up and implement its third five-year socioeconomic development plan effectively, make good use of its government industrial fund and its guidance fund for technological achievement transformation, foster landmark high-tech projects with driving effects, and accelerate the cultivation of new industries with international competitiveness, Zheng said.
Zheng said that breakthroughs should be achieved as soon as possible in resolving obstacles hindering the ongoing second-phase development of the Guangdong-Macau In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, while the Macau government should constantly advance its “One Centre, One Platform, One Base” campaign and develop the city into a high ground for gathering international high-end talent.
The Macau government’s “One Centre, One Platform, One Base” concept refers to Macau developing itself into a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure, a commercial and trade cooperation service platform between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, and an exchange and cooperation base with Chinese culture as its mainstream and co-existence of different cultures.
Second, Zheng said, the Macau government must take new steps in enhancing its governance effectiveness, which is an urgent need for Macau to better adapt to its socioeconomic development.
Macau must continue to uphold and improve its executive-led governance while vigorously exploring new approaches for positive interaction between the executive and legislative organs, Zheng said, urging the local government to deepen public administration reform, while promoting the standardised development of the city’s community associations with the aim of constantly improving the city’s grassroots governance system with its own characteristics.
Zheng said that the local government must adhere to a people-centred approach, always keep in mind Macau residents’ urgent difficulties and aspirations, and ensuring that the fruits of development benefit all Macau residents more broadly and equitably.
Third, Zheng said, Macau must present new outlooks in strengthening the local forces promoting patriotism and love for Macau. Zheng said that patriotism and love for Macau is the core value of Macau’s civil society, adding that Macau must maintain its tradition of valuing unity and consultation while also maintaining its social consensus where members of civil society generally resolve matters through discussions and advance work through coordination.
Zheng urged Macau to promote integrity and innovation among members of its patriotic camp, while paying greater attention to and support for young people to pursue their personal development, with the aim of enabling them to become the main force and successors for Macau’s development while ensuring that the cause of “One Country, Two Systems” is passed on from generation to generation.
Fourth, Zheng urged Macau to demonstrate new achievements in safeguarding national security and social stability. He said that safeguarding the nation’s sovereignty, security, and development interests is the highest principle of the “One Country, Two Systems” principle, adding that Macau’s civil society must deeply understand the complex changes in the international landscape, where the local government must thoroughly implement the central authorities’ holistic approach to national security, constantly improve Macau’s systems and mechanisms for safeguarding national security, innovate in carrying out national security education and publicity campaigns, resolutely combat forces that oppose China and destabilise Macau, and firmly prevent interference, infiltration, and sabotage by external forces.
Zheng also urged the local government to effectively prevent and resolve prominent conflicts and problems affecting the local economy and residents’ well-being, comprehensively screen and resolve safety hazards in various aspects, and maintain social harmony and stability.
Sam pledges 2 main pillars in govt work
Meanwhile, also delivering a speech during yesterday’s reception, Sam said pledged the local government will use its third five-year socioeconomic development plan as a key lever, proactively aligning with the nation’s 15th Five-Year Plan in order to better integrate into and serve the nation’s overall development.
Sam said that the local government will exercise its administration in alignment with two main pillars. The first is to uphold and improving Macau’s executive-led governance, deepen public administration reform, enhance governance effectiveness, and strengthen positive interaction and efficient collaboration between the executive, legislative and judicial organs.
The second pillar, Sam said, is to solidly advancing Macau’s appropriate economic diversification and pragmatically promote the development of the Guangdong Macau In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin.
Sam said that the local government expects the two pillars to work in synergy so as to promote Macau’s long-term prosperity and stability.
Sam underlined that the local government will continue to carefully listen to public opinion, work diligently to resolve problems affecting residents’ well-being, and improve urban governance, with the goal of building a smarter, more liveable, safer, and more inclusive Macau.
Sam also said that the local government will fully support the growth and development of the local forces promoting patriotism and love for Macau, while creating broader platforms for young people to develop and realise their potential.
Central People’s Government Liaison Office in Macau Director Zheng Xincong (left) and Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai deliver their speeches during yesterday’s Spring Festival reception hosted by the Liaison Office at the Forum Macao Complex. – Photos: GCS
Dignitaries offer a toast during yesterday’s Spring Festival reception comprising (from left to right) Liaison Office Deputy Directors Lyu Yuyin, Zhang Yingjie, PLA Macau Garrison Commissar Lin Qinghua, Foreign Ministry Commissioner Bian Lixin, CPPCC National Committee Vice Chairman Edmund Ho Hau Wah, Liaison Office Director Zheng Xincong, Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai, Sam’s predecessor Ho Iat Seng, PLA Macau Garrison Commander Yu Changjiang, Liaison Office Deputy Director Huang Liuquan, Legislative Assembly (AL) President André Cheong Weng Chon, and Court of Final Appeal (TUI) President Song Man Lei. – Photo: GCS
