Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai convened and chaired a meeting on Friday briefing principal and senior local officials about President Xi Jinping’s appraisal of the local government’s work over the past year, according to a statement by the Macau Government Information Bureau (GCS) that day.
The session held at Government Headquarters on Friday afternoon was attended by Sam’s five policy secretaries and other principal officials, as well as all the heads of the government’s about 70 bureaus and other bureau-level entities, according to the statement.
Sam made his first annual duty visit to Beijing in December last year where he briefed Xi about Macau’s latest political, economic and social development, his government’s work and achievements in 2025, and his government’s policy guidelines for 2026.
During Friday’s meeting, according to the statement, Sam noted that Xi and the central authorities fully affirmed the local government’s work over the past year.
Sam said that Xi required the local government to align with the nation’s 15th Five-Year Plan, uphold and improve Macau’s executive-led system, solidly promote the city’s appropriate economic diversification, continuously enhance governance efficiency, and better integrate into and serve the nation’s overall development.
According to the statement, Sam highly commended the efforts and achievements of various public entities, primarily reflected in three areas.
Commendations
First, the establishment of a holistic view and the demonstration of persistence in acting in the fundamental interests of the nation and the overall interests of Macau, as well as in firmly safeguarding the nation’s sovereignty, security, and development interests, Sam said.
Second, the strengthening of overall coordination and the reinforcement of cross-sector and cross-departmental cooperation, Sam said.
Third, the implementation of work strictly in line with his policy directions, Sam said.
6 requirements
According to the statement, Sam also raised six requirements for public entities.
First, liberate minds and break inertia in ways of thinking; second, plan ahead and proactively seize opportunities; third, be proactive and courageous in taking responsibility; fourth, be realistic and pragmatic, implementing precise and effective policies; fifth, be people-orientated, effectively improving residents’ well-being; and sixth, remain vigilant, maintaining an awareness of potential dangers even in times of peace, according to the statement.
During the meeting, the statement said, Sam also emphasised the need for the local government to continue this year to implement the spirit of Xi’s various important speeches concerning Macau’s development.
Sam said that the local government must and closely align with the nation’s 15th Five-Year Plan. On the basis of broadly listening to opinions from various sectors of Macau’s civil society, conducting in-depth investigations and research, and using a scientific approach, Sam said, the local government will compile and publish Macau’s third five-year socioeconomic development plan.
Sam also said that the executive-led system must be upheld and improved, fully leveraging the core role of the chief executive and the local government in the governance system. Secretary for Administration and Justice Wong Sio Chak must effectively fulfil duties, strengthen overall coordination, and ensure that the local government assumes its central function within the governance system, with professionalism and a pragmatic approach to administrative activities, the chief executive said.
Sam also said that Wong must help form a governance pattern that flows smoothly from top to bottom and coordinates horizontally. This includes, Sam said, promoting arrangements whereby there is a benign interaction in how the executive and legislature cooperate institutionally, support each other politically, and help each other operationally.
Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai addresses Friday’s meeting at Government Headquarters about President Xi Jinping’s appraisal of the local government’s work in 2025.
Local officials attend Friday afternoon’s meeting at Government Headquarters in Nam Van district. – Photos: GCS
