Macau Special Administrative Region (MSAR) Executive Sam Hou Fai said today that this year’s “two sessions” carried great significance, serving as a bridge between the past and the future, with the adoption of the outline of the country’s 15th Five-Year Plan providing Macau with new and major development opportunities.
Sam made the remarks during a briefing to promote policies and aspirations outlined in the concluded “two sessions” in Beijing yesterday. Those were the fourth session of the 14th National People’s Congress (NPC) and the fourth session of the 14th Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee.
The briefing was hosted by the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in the Macau Special Administrative Region (MSAR), at its headquarters in Zape.
Provided that the MSAR maintains confidence in its development path, strengthens its sense of responsibility and practical action, fully leverages Macau’s unique strengths, and proactively aligns with national development strategies – while advancing its various undertakings in a high-quality manner – it will surely realise the policy visions of “Law-based Macau”, “Vibrant Macau”, “Cultural Macau”, and “Blissful Macau”, Sam said.
In doing so, Macau will continue to write a new chapter in the great cause of the “One Country, Two Systems” principle with Macau characteristics, and make fresh and greater contributions to Chinese modernisation.
During this year’s “two sessions”, President Xi Jinping delivered important instructions on key issues such as developing new quality productive forces; building a “Healthy China”; and the integrated advancement of education, science and technology, and talent development, Sam noted.
Premier Li Qiang’s Government Work Report set clear requirements for Macau to enhance law-based governance, to promote economic and social development, and to integrate better into – and serve – the national development agenda, Sam said.
Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang outlined significant arrangements regarding Macau’s proactive alignment with the country’s 15th Five-Year Plan, solid advancement of appropriate economic diversification, and deeper development of the Guangdong-Macau In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin.
The care and high expectations for Macau expressed by the country’s leaders served as a great encouragement to the MSAR and provided clear direction for its development, Sam said.
The MSAR must translate the spirit of the “two sessions” into concrete action, proactively and closely aligning with the country’s 15th Five-Year Plan – particularly the plan’s raft of strategic arrangements supporting Macau in consolidating and enhancing its competitive advantages, and in better integrating into the national development framework, the chief executive noted.
By doing so, Macau can effectively formulate and implement its 3rd Five-Year Plan for the Social and Economic Development of the MSAR, and continuously open new chapters in Macau’s development through active participation in, and contribution to, the great cause of national rejuvenation.
Sam’s 6 points of understanding
Sam shared six points of understanding in the context of the actual situation of Macau.
First, there is the need to align proactively and closely with the country’s 15th Five-Year Plan and scientifically formulate and implement the MSAR’s 3rd Five-Year Plan.
Second, there is the need to uphold and improve the MSAR’s executive-led system and effectively enhance its government’s governance capacity.
Third, there is the need to safeguard resolutely both national security and social stability, while actively promoting the growth of patriotic and Macau-loving forces.
Fourth, there is the need to advance solidly Macau’s appropriate economic diversification and deepen Macau-Hengqin integration.
Fifth, there is the need to strengthen livelihood initiatives, deliver tangible improvements in people’s lives, and build a happy Macau.
Sixth, there is the need to integrate into, and serve, the national development framework, and leverage Macau’s role as an important window for cultural exchange and mutual learning between Chinese and Western civilisations.
Ho stresses MSAR economy’s appropriate diversification
Meanwhile, CPPCC National Committee Vice Chairman Edmund Ho Hau Wah said in a speech at the briefing that the MSAR must proactively align with the country’s 15th Five-Year Plan and formulate the MSAR’s 3rd Five-Year Plan. He expressed full confidence that Macau’s government is capable of successfully achieving this important task.
Ho noted that the Central People’s Government has emphasised Macau’s need to advance appropriate economic diversification, with the goal of gradually reducing the economy’s reliance on a single industry. At the same time, by fostering diversified economic development, Macau could better integrate into, and serve, the overall national development agenda. In this process, careful consideration must be given to how Macau’s social structure, economic framework, and demographic composition can be aligned with national development objectives, he added.
Ho also said that the MSAR Government must adopt a forward-looking vision, embrace diverse perspectives, and demonstrate determination in reform and progress – the principles set forth by President Xi when he was in Macau for the MSAR’s 25th anniversary. The key to formulating and implementing the city’s 3rd Five-Year Plan lies in pursuing high-quality development, focusing on cultivating and developing new quality productive forces, intensifying talent development, and actively enhancing Macau’s competitiveness, to achieve a higher level of openness to the world.
Ho added that when drafting Macau’s 3rd Five-Year Plan, the MSAR Government should adopt a long-term perspective, fully leverage Macau’s unique strengths, and refine its industrial structure. It should also consider the appropriate introduction of new quality productive forces. He encouraged the local government to show courage through a stronger sense of responsibility, consolidate social consensus, and provide sound political leadership.
The patriotic and Macau-loving sectors must fully support, and cooperate with, the MSAR Government, working in unity and harmony to seize the historic opportunities presented by national strategies. Together, they should lead Macau forward, steadfastly integrating into, and contributing to, the nation’s development framework, Ho concluded.
Liaison Office Director Zheng offers 3 suggestions
During the briefing, the director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the MSAR, Zheng Xincong, offered three suggestions on studying and implementing the spirit of the “Two Sessions”.
First, there is the need to gain a deep appreciation of the hard-won achievements in development, security, and stability, and further strengthen confidence and determination regarding the achievement of high-quality development.
Second, there is the need to understand fully the national strategy and Macau’s mission, and effectively seize the new opportunities presented by the new era.
Third, there is the need to recognize clearly the key tasks for Macau in implementing the spirit of the “two sessions”: study the new circumstances, address new challenges, and generate more best practices.
Zheng proposes 5 priority areas
Specifically, Zheng proposed concerted efforts in five priority areas.
First, there is the need to align with the country’s 15th Five-Year Plan, widely build social consensus, and formulate and implement the MSAR’s 3rd Five-Year Plan – covering not only economic development but also social and livelihood sectors.
Second, there is the need to uphold and improve the executive-led system, support the chief executive and MSAR Government in governing in accordance with the law, advance reform, and enhance governance effectiveness.
Third, there is the need to promote solidly economic diversification and make every effort to advance the development of the Cooperation Zone in Hengqin as a major strategic initiative.
Fourth, there is the need to safeguard resolutely national security and social stability, and uphold the fundamental principle that Macau must remain stable and orderly.
Fifth, there is the need to promote actively the growth of patriotic and Macau-loving forces, and expand the broadest possible consensus in support of the “One Country, Two Systems” principle.
End Item
N.B. English-language text provided by the Macau Government Information Bureau (GCS) tonight. Minor edits by the Post. Subheadings and words in bold have been added by the Post for emphasis.
Caption: Macau SAR Chief Executive Sam Ho Fai addresses a briefing on the recently-concluded "two sessions" (NPC) and CPPCC National Committee), hosted by the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government of the People's Republic of China (PRC) in the Macau SAR, at the headquarters of the Liaison Office in Zape, today. - Photo courtesy of public broadcaster TDM
