The newly appointed Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Macau Special Administrative Region (MSAR), Bian Lixin, yesterday paid a courtesy call, after assuming office late last month, to former MSAR chief executive Ho Iat Seng, where she expressed gratitude to Ho for his long-standing support for Macau-related diplomatic work, according to a statement by the commissioner’s office yesterday.
Bian arrived in Macau to assume office on January 30, after the Central People’s Government announced on January 23 its decision to appoint Bian as the head of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the MSAR. Bian, a former head of the ministry’s Personnel Department, succeeded Liu Xianfa at the helm of the commissioner’s office. Liu concluded his five-year tenure in Macau on January 15, 2026.
Liu has meanwhile been appointed the central authorities’ special representative on African affairs.
Bian paid a courtesy call to MSAR Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai on Tuesday last week and to 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), the following day.
The commissioner’s office is one of the three entities established by the central government based in Macau, alongside the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the MSAR and the local garrison of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA).
The MSAR was established by the People’s Republic of China (PRC) on December 20, 1999, when Macau’s temporary Portuguese administration came to an end.
Edmund Ho served as the MSAR’s first chief executive, for two consecutive five-year terms between December 20, 1999 and December 19, 2009.
Ho Iat Seng, Sam’s predecessor, served as the MSAR’s chief executive for a five-year term, between December 20, 2019 and December 19, 2024.
Sam took office as the MSAR’s chief executive on December 20, 2024.
During yesterday’s meeting, according to the statement, Bian underlined that the commissioner’s office will continue to thoroughly fulfil its functions and duties, by supporting Macau in deepening external exchanges and cooperation and in accelerating its appropriate economic diversification, with the aim of and fostering a favourable external environment for maintaining Macau’s long-term prosperity and stability.
During yesterday’s meeting, according to the statement, Ho Iat Seng welcomed Bian to her new role in Macau and praised the commissioner’s office for its achievements in Macau-related diplomatic work.
Ho Iat Seng, a former president of the local legislature, said that he expects the commissioner’s office to continue making new contributions to broadening the MSAR’s international network of friends and supporting its appropriate economic diversification.
Meanwhile, Bian paid a courtesy call to former MSAR chief executive Fernando Chui Sai On on Tuesday, where she also expressed gratitude to Chui for his long-standing support for Macau-related diplomatic work, according to a statement by the commissioner’s office that day.
Bian underlined that the commissioner’s office will continue to fully fulfil its functions and duties, resolutely a solid barrier for safeguarding national security, and support Macau in strengthening its role as “One Centre, One Platform, One Base”.
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.
During Tuesday’s meeting, according to the statement, Chui welcomed Bian to her new role in Macau and praised the commissioner’s office for its important role in expanding the MSAR’s external exchanges and cooperation and enhancing Macau’s international influence.
Chui said that he expects the commissioner’s office to build on its achievements to reach new heights and make new contributions to the steady and sustained implementation of the “One Country, Two Systems” principle.
Chui succeeded Edmund Ho as the MSAR’s chief executive, serving two consecutive five-year terms between December 20, 2009 and December 19, 2019.
Former chief executive Ho Iat Seng (right) shakes hands with newly appointed Foreign Ministry Commissioner Bian Lixin on the sidelines of their meeting yesterday. – Photo: commissioner’s office
Former chief executive Fernando Chui Sai On (right) meets with newly appointed Foreign Ministry Commissioner Bian Lixin on Tuesday. – Photo: commissioner’s office
