President Xi Jinping makes some brief remarks on the tarmac after arriving at Macau International Airport.
The President, Mr Xi Jinping, today said the Central Government and the Chinese people were proud of the achievements and progress of Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) in the past 20 years.
The President was speaking at the airport upon his arrival in Macao for a three-day visit. President Xi and his wife Madame Peng Liyuan arrived at Macau International Airport at 4pm on a special flight.
They were greeted on the airport apron by the Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, and his wife Ms Fok Wai Fun; the fifth-term Chief Executive, Mr Ho Iat Seng, and his wife; and Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, Mr Ho Hau Wah.
President Xi, who is also General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, was warmly welcomed by a cheering crowd of 400 students waving Chinese national flags and Macao SAR flags.
In a short speech upon his arrival, President Xi said that he was very happy to be back in Macao, a beautiful city with which he was familiar. The President had since 2000 made multiple visits to Macao, including his most recent in 2014 to celebrate the SAR’s 15th anniversary.
The People’s Republic of China celebrated its 70th anniversary in October. The 20th anniversary of Macao’s return to the motherland was also a major event of interest to all people in the country, said President Xi. On behalf of the Central Government and the Chinese people of all ethnic groups, President Xi extended warm greetings and best wishes to all the people of Macao.
It was worthwhile to sum up the experience and characteristics of Macao in faithfully implementing the “One country, two systems” principle, President Xi stated. He also called for concerted effort to draft the blueprint for Macao's future development.
While speaking to reporters at the airport, President Xi said he was looking forward to meeting people from all walks of life in the next few days in order to exchange views of mutual concern.
Other officials welcoming the President for the start of his visit included: the Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao SAR, Mr Fu Ziying; the President of the Legislative Assembly, Mr Kou Hoi In; the President of the Court of Final Appeal, Mr Sam Hou Fai; the Secretary for Public Administration and Justice, Ms Chan Hoi Fan; the Secretary for Economy and Finance, Mr Leong Vai Tac; the Secretary for Security, Mr Wong Sio Chak; the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Mr Tam Chon Weng; the Secretary for Transport and Public Works, Mr Raimundo do Rosário; the Commissioner Against Corruption, Mr Cheong Weng Chon; the Commissioner of Audit, Mr Ho Veng On; the Commissioner-General of the Unitary Police Service, Mr Ma Io Kun; the Director-General of the Macao Customs Service, Mr Vong Iao Lek; the Public Prosecutor-General, Mr Ip Son Sang; the Commissioner of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the Macao SAR, Ms Shen Beili; the People’s Liberation Army Macao Garrison Commander, Senior Colonel Xu Liangcai; and the People’s Liberation Army Macao Garrison Political Commissar, Mr Sun Wenju.
Other members of the Central Government delegation included: member of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau, member of the CPC Central Committee Secretariat, and Director of the CPC Central Committee General Office, Mr Ding Xuexiang; member of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau and Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, Mr Wang Chen; member of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau and Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission, Mr Zhang Youxia; State Councillor and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Wang Yi; Vice Chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, Mr Ma Biao; Deputy Director in charge of routine work of the Policy Research Office of the CPC Central Committee, Mr Jiang Jinquan; and the Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Mr Zhang Xiaoming.
From the airport, the President and his entourage were driven to San Chok Un Guesthouse, where he was scheduled to meet Mr Chui.
President Xi will tomorrow meet Macao’s incumbent leading officials representing respectively the public administration, the legislature, and the judiciary, and then will meet in a separate event local people representing all walks of life. In the evening, President Xi will attend a welcoming banquet hosted by the Macao SAR Government, and watch a celebratory variety show.
On Friday (20 December), President Xi will attend 20th Anniversary Celebration of Macao’s Return to the Motherland and the Inauguration Ceremony of the Fifth-term Government of the Macao Special Administrative Region, and meet with officials of the new-term Macao SAR Government responsible respectively for the functions of the public administration, the legislature, and the judiciary.
