President Xi Jinping visited a government services centre and a school yesterday morning, and talked with teachers, pupils and other local residents.
On the second day of his three-day working visit, Xi was accompanied by outgoing Chief Executive Fernando Chui Sai On during his tour of the Government Services Centre in Areia Preta and the Premier School Affiliated to Hou Kong Middle School in Taipa. It was Chui’s last day at the helm of the local government.
At the services centre where 26 government entities provide one-stop services to local residents, the president observed the working procedures and conversed with some residents.
During the tour, outgoing Secretary for Administration and Justice Sónia Chan Hoi Fan briefed Xi about the operation of the services centre.
Xi went to the identification services area where he was briefed by staff about the use of Identification Services Bureau’s (DSI) self-service kiosks.
Chan also briefed Xi about the security features of Macau Special Administrative (MSAR) ID cards and passports.
Xi acknowledged the efficient public services delivered through the use of information technology.
‘Historic changes’
Xi told the residents that he had seen Macau people’s constant livelihood improvements and could feel the historic changes since Macau’s return to the motherland in 1999.
Xi also went to the social security services area, where he was briefed by staff about Macau’s social security system, and chatted with senior citizens who were using services there.
Xi’s visit to the Government Services Centre lasted 30 minutes.
Afterwards, Xi paid a visit to the Premier School Affiliated to Hou Kong Middle School, which was founded in 1932 and has the largest number of pupils among Macau’s basic education institutions. Hou Kong Middle School comprises four campuses, namely the secondary school, primarily school and kindergarten on the peninsula, as well as the premier school in Taipa.
Outgoing Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Alexis Tam Chon Weng, and Education and Youth Affairs Bureau (DSEJ) Director Lou Pak Sang welcomed Xi when he arrived at the school.At the school’s library, Xi was briefed on the overall situation of Macau’s education and the school’s history, as well as the patriotic education both at the school and in the MSAR since 1999.
At the library, Xi picked up teaching materials for Chinese history and moral and civic education that were on display. The president showed great interest and browsed through some of the materials.
Collaboration with the mainland
Xi acknowledged the local government’s work of drafting teaching materials in collaboration with the mainland. He pointed out that teaching materials are important tools for patriotic education, encouraging more schools in Macau to use the new teaching materials.
Xi also watched a presentation of the school’s innovative approach towards teaching science. In the school’s auditorium, the president observed a Chinese history class themed “One Country, Two Systems and Macau”.
After watching the class, Xi spoke highly of Macau’s patriotic education and called for more efforts in this regard.
“Patriotic education lays a solid social and political foundation for Macau to implement the ‘One Country, Two Systems’ principle and guides its practice to always proceed in the correct direction,” Xi said.
Noting that Hou Kong Middle School has a long patriotic tradition, Xi said he was touched when he received a letter in May from the school’s pupils who showed a strong sense of patriotism.
Xi stressed the need to know history in order to consolidate the foundation of patriotism.
“As Chinese people, we must know the history of our Chinese nation,” he said. “The 1.4 billion Chinese are so closely united due to the richness of the Chinese civilisation and the Chinese spirit, which are the source of cultural confidence.
“One can easily feel a strong sense of national self-esteem and national pride after knowing our uninterrupted history spanning over five millennia,” Xi said. “And only by knowing the nation’s history of humiliation after the Opium War, one can understand the Chinese people’s strong yearning for national rejuvenation.”
As this year marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), each Chinese takes pride in the country’s splendid achievements, Xi said, adding that confidence in the country’s development path has been strengthened.
Macau has witnessed tremendous changes since it returned to the motherland 20 years ago, which helps Macau compatriots better understand that the basis of “One Country, Two systems” is “One Country”, Xi said.
Macau compatriots also cherish more what they have today and have a stronger resolve to strive for a better future, he continued.
The president said patriotic education is very important and the MSAR government’s education authorities and schools should shoulder the main tasks, keep up the good work and achieve more in regard to patriotic education.
He expressed confidence that today’s young people in Macau will grow into “a capable generation whom we are proud of” and become the backbone of both Macau and the country.
Xi’s visit to the school lasted 45 minutes. – Xinhua, MPD
President Xi Jinping talks with citizens during his visit to the Government Services Center in Areia Preta yesterday. – Xinhua
