The 25th Anniversary Celebration of Macao's Return to the Motherland and the Inauguration Ceremony of the Sixth-term Government of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) is held at the Macao East Asian Games Dome on 20 December. President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, delivers a speech at the inaugural ceremony. The photo shows President Xi administering the oath of office to Sam Hou Fai, the Sixth-term Chief Executive of the Macao SAR. (Photo: Xinhua. Will be removed in 3 days)
President Xi Jinping on Friday hailed the enormous transformation that has taken place in Macao since its return to the motherland in 1999.
Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, said the practice of "one country, two systems" with Macao characteristics has been a tremendous success.
Xi made the remarks at a gathering here, with an audience of over 1,000 people, celebrating the 25th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland and the inaugural ceremony of the sixth-term government of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR).
The systems for implementing the "one country, two systems" policy have been continuously improved, and national sovereignty, security, and development interests have been effectively safeguarded in the region, he said.
Macao's economic and social development has experienced a historic rise, local residents' sense of fulfillment, happiness, and security has been significantly enhanced, and the region's international cooperation has been continuously expanded, Xi noted.
Macao's role has been strengthened as a world tourism and leisure center, a commercial and trade cooperation service platform between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, and a base for exchange and cooperation where Chinese culture is the mainstream and diverse cultures coexist, Xi said.
President Xi stressed the long-term adherence to "one country, two systems" as Macao celebrates a quarter-century of transformative success since its return to the motherland.
Xi stated that great achievements of Macao since its return have proven to the world that "one country, two systems" has prominent institutional strengths and tremendous vitality.
Macao and its neighbor Hong Kong are China's two SARs governed under the "one country, two systems" policy since China resumed the exercise of sovereignty over them following long periods of Portuguese and British rule. The policy allows them to maintain their capitalist systems and ways of life within socialist China.
Xi said "one country, two systems" is a good policy that helps maintain long-term prosperity and stability in Hong Kong and Macao, a good policy that serves the noble cause of building a stronger country and achieving national rejuvenation, and a good policy that helps realize peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation between different social systems.
The values of peace, inclusiveness, openness and sharing that are embodied in the policy are shared by China and the rest of the world, and deserve to be jointly safeguarded, he added.
President Xi Jinping said that "one country, two systems" is a good policy that must be adhered to for a long time.
The great achievements of Macao since its return have proven to the world that "one country, two systems" has prominent institutional strengths and tremendous vitality.
It is a good policy that helps maintain long-term prosperity and stability in Hong Kong and Macao, a good policy that serves the noble cause of building a stronger country and achieving national rejuvenation, and a good policy that helps realize peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation between different social systems, he said.
The values of peace, inclusiveness, openness and sharing embodied in the policy are shared by China and the rest of the world, and deserve to be jointly safeguarded, Xi noted.
To achieve better development of Hong Kong and Macao and make greater contributions to building a stronger country and advancing national rejuvenation is an important mission of the practice of "one country, two systems" in the new era, he said.
Xi urged the new government of the Macao SAR to better leverage the institutional advantages of "one country, two systems" and open up new prospects for the high-quality development of the "one country, two systems" cause.
President Xi stressed drawing on the experience since the return of Hong Kong and Macao to the motherland in maintaining the long-term prosperity and stability in the two SARs.
He urged upholding the fundamental principle of "one country" while leveraging the benefits of "two systems," and maintaining high-level security while promoting high-quality development.
Xi called for giving full play to the unique advantages of Hong Kong and Macao, which should expand their connections with the world while intensively integrating into the country's development strategies.
The president also urged carrying forward the core values of loving the country as well as loving Hong Kong and Macao, and promoting inclusiveness and harmony in the two regions.
President Xi expressed expectations for the newly inaugurated government of the Macao SAR.
Xi called on the new SAR government to promote the appropriate diversification of the local economy, improve governance efficiency, build a platform for higher-level opening up, and safeguard social harmony and stability.
In terms of economic diversification, Xi urged promoting high-level economic synergy and deep alignment of regulations between the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin and Macao, and enabling efficient and smooth cross-border flow of various factors between them.
Xi said it is important to note that the central authorities' decision to develop Hengqin is aimed at promoting the appropriate diversification of Macao's economy and facilitating the life and employment of Macao residents.
This positioning must be upheld and industrial projects inconsistent with this positioning should not be developed, he said.
President Xi said Macao will surely open up new horizons for development and keep creating new glories, as long as the policy of "one country, two systems" is comprehensively, accurately and unwaveringly implemented.
New glories can surely be made through concerted efforts of the Macao SAR government and people from all walks of life, and with the strong backing of the motherland, said Xi.
He also expressed firm confidence that Macao can make greater contributions to the cause of building China into a strong country on all fronts and advancing national rejuvenation through Chinese modernization.
Delivering a brief speech at the airport after arriving in the city Wednesday, Xi called Macao "a pearl on the palm" of the motherland.
Xi on Thursday visited the Macau University of Science and Technology. He also inspected the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, praising it for bolstering Macao's economic diversification.
(Source: Xinhua)
