The newly appointed Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Macau Special Administrative Region (MSAR), Bian Lixin, pledged yesterday that the commissioner’s office, guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy, will align its work with the new development goals of the nation’s 15th Five-Year Plan, further strengthen the barrier of national security in Macau, correctly and deeply implement the “diplomacy benefiting Macau” principle, assist Macau in expanding external exchanges and cooperation, and fully support the successful hosting of the APEC 13th Tourism Ministerial Meeting in Macau (scheduled for June this year).
Bian said that the commissioner’s office will also promote international cooperation in the Guangdong-Macao In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin to accelerate Macau’s appropriate economic diversification, help more Macau young people broaden their international horizons, tell the global community the good story of Macau, and better protect the legitimate rights and interests of Macau compatriots overseas.
Bian made the remarks while delivering a speech at a reception yesterday marking her assumption of office in Macau.
Yesterday’s 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.
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.
In her speech, Bian noted that on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of its return to the motherland, President Xi Jinping paid an inspection visit to Macau in December 2024 and delivered various important speeches, providing guidance and direction for the implementation of the “One Country, Two Systems” principle with Macau characteristics on the new journey.
Bian acknowledged that the MSAR government, uniting and leading all sectors of Macau’s civil society, has fully implemented the “patriots governing Macau” principle, upheld and improved executive-led governance, resolutely safeguarded national security, accelerated Macau’s appropriate economic diversification, and comprehensively enhanced governance effectiveness.
Bian acknowledged that Macau has solidly advanced its “One Centre, One Platform, One Base” campaign, and established the Service Centre for Economy and Trade between China and Portuguese/Spanish-speaking Countries (with its office in Hengqin) to expand and deepen pragmatic cooperation with relevant countries.
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.
Bian noted that this year marks the start of the nation’s 15th Five-Year Plan and Macau’s third five-year socioeconomic development plan. On the new journey, Bian said, Macau will undoubtedly play a more significantly role in promoting economic diversification through expanding external exchanges and cooperation, pointing out that the nation’s 15th Five-Year Plan highlights Macau’s role as “One Centre, One Platform, One Base” to promote its appropriate economic diversification.
With the joint efforts of the MSAR government and all sectors of Macau’s civil society, and with the great motherland’s strong backing, Bian said, Macau will surely seize the opportunity to forge ahead with determination, further expand and deepen international exchanges and cooperation, proactively participate in the high-quality development of the nation’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), accelerate its appropriate economic diversification, and better act as an important bridge for the nation’s high-standard opening-up.
On the new journey, Bian said, Macau’s determined reform in enhancing governance efficiency in external affairs will undoubtedly achieve greater results. Bian noted that Xi has emphasised the need for Macau to uphold and improve its executive-led governance and enhance governance effectiveness, adding that Macau’s success since its return to the motherland has proved that executive-led governance offers advantages in upholding fundamental principles while breaking new ground and ensuring consistent policy, effectively enhancing Macau’s international competitiveness and global influence.
Bian said that Macau will surely leverage the strengthens of its executive-led system to consolidate efforts to expand its international connections, and play a more active role on the international stage.
On the new journey, Bian said, Macau’s unique strengths in serving major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics will undoubtedly lead to greater achievements. Bian said that the “One Country, Two Systems” principle with Macau characteristics is a good system for ensuring peaceful coexistence and mutual benefit between different social systems. The values embodied in the cause of “One Country, Two Systems”, namely peace, inclusiveness, openness, and sharing, are relevant to not only China but also the whole world, she said.
Bian said that Macau will surely shoulder its mission and leverage its unique strengths to turn the city into an important window of exchanges and mutual learning between Chinese and Western civilisations, making greater contributions to serving major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics in the new era.
In addition to Bian, 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, Central People’s Government Liaison Office in the MSAR Director Zheng Xincong, Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Macau Garrison Deputy Commander Dai Jinsong, Macau Legislative Assembly (AL) President André Cheong Weng Chon, Macau Court of Final Appeal (TUI) President Song Man Lei, and Foreign Ministry Deputy Commissioner Cheng Lei.
Newly appointed Foreign Ministry Commissioner Bian Lixin addresses yesterday’s reception at the Forum Macao Complex. – Photo: commissioner’s office
