Xia Baolong, who heads both the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office (HKMWO) of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office (HKMAO) of the State Council, met with Macau Special Administrative Region (MSAR) Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai in Beijing yesterday, where Xia urged the local government to draw up Macau’s third five-year socioeconomic development plan in full compliance with the nation’s overall development strategy and Macau’s own situation, according to a HKMWO-HKMAO statement.
Sam travelled to Beijing on Tuesday for a three-day working visit where he will attend the opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People’s Congress (NPC) this morning.
During yesterday’s meeting, according to the statement, Xia praised Sam for leading the MSAR government in resolutely implementing the spirit of President Xi Jinping’s important speeches concerning Hong Kong’s and Macau’s development as well as the central authorities’ decisions and deployments. With determination to reform and vigorous endeavour, Xia acknowledged, the MSAR government has firmly safeguarded national security, advanced public administration reform, and vigorously participated in the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), achieving new progress across various undertakings in Macau.
Xia noted that when hearing a work report from Sam in December last year, Xi underlined the need for Macau to proactively align with the nation’s 15th Five-Year Plan. Pointing out that the fourth session of the 14th NPC is scheduled to review the draft outline of the nation’s 15th Five-Year Plan, Xia said he believes that the MSAR government and all sectors of Macau’s civil society will certainly seize development opportunities, complete the drawing-up of Macau’s third five-year socioeconomic development plan in full compliance with the nation’s overall development strategy and Macau’s own situation, uphold and improve the MSAR’s executive-led governance, continuously enhance governance effectiveness, more vigorously advance Macau’s appropriate economic diversification, particularly through the stronger participation in the development of the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, and strengthen Macau’s role as “One Centre, One Platform, One Base”, thereby enabling Macau to achieve better development through its integration into the nation’s overall development.
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.
Meanwhile, according to a statement by the Macau Government Information Bureau (GCS) last night, Sam, during yesterday’s meeting with Xia, expressed gratitude to Xia for his care for Macau and his guidance to the MSAR government. Sam underlined that over the past year, under the central government’s strong support, his government, which took office on December 20, 2024, has worked in unity with all sectors of Macau’s civil society to steadily advance various policies and measures, where his administration and governance has been smooth and steady, achieving innovation, breakthroughs, and tangible results in various areas.
According to the GCS statement, Sam pledged that the MSAR government will continue to unite all sectors of Macau’s civil society in thoroughly implementing the spirit of Xi’s various important speeches and instructions, while proactively aligning with the nation’s 15th Five-Year Plan, and drawing up and implementing Macau’s third five-year socioeconomic development plan with high quality.
Pledging his commitment to upholding and improving the MSAR’s executive-led governance, Sam also underlined that his government will, in close alignment with its two main pillars, namely public administration reform and appropriate economic diversification, ensure the implementation of its 1+4 appropriate economic diversification plan, advance its four large-scale projects, and more proactively collaborate with Guangdong Province in planning the second-phase development of the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, thereby continuously writing new chapters in the successful implementation of the “One Country, Two Systems” principle with Macau characteristics.
The local government’s 1+4 model aims to consolidate and diversify the development of the city’s tourism and leisure industry, i.e., the “1” element, while putting special emphasis on promoting the development of four new key industries, i.e., the “4” elements, namely 1) big health mainly driven by traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), 2) modern finance, 3) high-tech, and 4) MICE and commerce as well as culture and sport.
The local government’s four future large-scale projects, aiming to inject new impetus into Macau’s long-term development, comprise the Macau International Integrated Tourism and Cultural Zone, the Macau Science and Technology Research and Development Industrial Park, the Macau International Aviation Hub for the Pearl River West Bank, and the Macau-Hengqin International Education (University) Town.
Sam also underlined yesterday that Macau will unswervingly safeguard the nation’s sovereignty, security, and development interests, while fully leveraging the advantages of the “One Country, Two Systems” principle and Macau’s unique strengths to better integrate into and serve the nation’s overall development.
Meanwhile, Sam yesterday paid an inspection visit to the MSAR’s representative office in Beijing, according to a separate GCS statement last night.
Han Jing, acting chief of the office, briefed Sam about the office’s operation. According to the statement, Sam urged the office’s staff to dedicate themselves to their duties in providing consulting and support services to Macau residents in Beijing, thereby presenting a positive image of the MSAR government.
Sam noted that the MSAR’s representative office in Beijing is an important window for the MSAR government in the Chinese mainland, urging the staff to better leverage the office’s role as a platform and a bridge in supporting the MSAR government in continuously deepening communication and connection with the various ministries and commissions of the central government.
Xia Baolong (right), director of the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office (HKMWO) of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the State Council’s Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office (HKMAO), meets with Macau Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai in Beijing yesterday. – Photo: HKMWO-HKMAO
Guided by Han Jing (left), acting chief of Macau’s representative office in Beijing, Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai shakes hands with a staff member of the office yesterday. – Photo: GCS
