A ceremony was held yesterday evening marking the launch of this year’s National Security Education Exhibition and various other national security education activities. Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai said in a speech that the local government will ensure that safeguarding national security requirements are consistently integrated across all areas and stages of its work to advance Macau’s development strategy, while continuing to improve Macau’s legal systems and enforcement mechanisms for safeguarding national security.
After yesterday evening’s opening ceremony, the one-month National Security Education Exhibition, being held at the Services Platform Complex for Commercial and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (aka Forum Macao Complex), will be open to members of the general public from 3 p.m. today.
The exhibition, which is open between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. daily, will run until May 15.
Macau’s National Security Education Exhibition, aiming to mark the country’s National Security Education Day, has been jointly held by the Macau Special Administrative Region (MSAR) government and the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the MSAR annually since 2018.
This year’s exhibition is its ninth edition since its inception.
In his speech, Sam underlined that safeguarding the nation’s sovereignty, security, and development interests is the supreme principle of “One Country, Two Systems” and the solid foundation for Macau’s socioeconomic development, and it concerns the fundamental interests of the MSAR and the well-being of Macau residents.
For a long time, Sam underlined, the MSAR has steadfastly fulfilled its constitutional responsibility to safeguard national security, consistently upheld its executive-led system, and constantly advanced its tasks of safeguarding national security to new heights under the guidance of the central authorities’ holistic approach to national security.
Sam noted that the new Law on the MSAR’s Committee for Safeguarding National Security and its supplementary administrative regulation took effect last month, further improving the MSAR government’s top-level leadership mechanism for safeguarding national security, and providing the committee with a more solid legal basis and stronger law enforcement capabilities.
Sam also underlined Macau’s commitment to resolutely preventing and countering external interference, and to cracking down on collusion between anti-China, destabilising elements in Macau and external hostile forces. By continuing to expand the local forces promoting patriotism and love for Macau, Sam said, the Macau government has been building broader social consensus to safeguard national security and Macau’s harmony and stability.
Sam also noted that the world is undergoing profound changes unseen in a century at an accelerated pace. Conflicts around the world, particularly the ongoing ones in the Middle East, remind us that “we are not living in a peaceful world, but in a peaceful country”, and that peace is not a given and stability is hard-won.
Sam raises 3 points for safeguarding national security
Safeguarding national security is an ongoing mission with no endpoint, Sam said in his speech, raising three points of view for Macau’s ongoing efforts to safeguard national security.
First, Sam said, Macau must fully understand the severe circumstances that the country is facing in safeguarding national security. Macau, Sam said, must comprehensively perceive internal and external security risks, remain mindful of potential dangers in times of peace, and adopt a mindset of worst-case scenarios, preparing robust contingency plans for various risks and challenges.
Second, Sam said, Macau must firmly advance high-level security development. On the one hand, Sam said, Macau must more effectively leverage the advantages of its executive-led system, and continuously improve its governance model that is led by the executive organ and complemented with coordinated participation from the legislative and judicial organs as well as various segments of civil society.
On the other hand, Sam said, various public entities of the local government must fulfil their duties with a higher degree of political awareness, a sense of big-picture thinking, and a spirit of serving duty with obedience, while solidifying responsibilities, taking initiative, and continuously modernising the MSAR’s systems and capabilities for safeguarding national security.
Third, Sam said, Macau must build a high-quality development framework, accurately implementing the principle of consolidating security in the course of development, and coordinating the safeguarding of national security with its socioeconomic development.
Sam said that Macau must deepen the integrated development between Macau and Hengqin, creating more favourable conditions for promoting its appropriate economic diversification and boosting its economic vitality.
The Macau government must continue to enhance residents’ sense of happiness and fulfilment, resolve deep-seated socioeconomic issues, and strengthen the foundation of social stability, ensuring Macau’s long-term stability, Sam said.
Moreover, Sam also said in his speech that in terms of safeguarding national security, there should be no bystanders but only guardians. Macau’s experience since its return to the motherland has fully proven that only with solid national security, can the steady and far-reaching implementation of the “One Country, Two Systems” principle be ensured, the economy and society prosper, and the well-being of the residents be effectively protected, Sam said.
Sam noted that the nation’s 15th Five-Year Plan, which was passed by the National People’s Congress (NPC) in Beijing last month, draws a grand blueprint for the country’s development over the next five years, while also presenting Macau with significant opportunities to advance its high-quality development and better integrate into and serve the nation’s overall development.
Sam pledged that his government will fully put into practice the new tasks and requirements outlined by the nation’s 15th Five-Year Plan, and pragmatically draw up and implement the MSAR’s 3rd Five-Year Plan. The MSAR government will ensure that the requirements of national security are integrated throughout all areas and stages in Macau’s development strategy, Sam said, adding that it will also accurately put into practice the central authorities’ holistic approach to national security, continuously improve Macau’s legal systems and enforcement mechanisms for safeguarding national security, and strengthen security capabilities across various sectors.
Zheng raises 3 suggestions for national security
Also delivering a speech during yesterday’s ceremony, Liaison Office Director Zheng Xincong raised three suggestions for Macau’s work on safeguarding national security.
First, Zheng said, we must view Macau’s coordination of development and security with a broad historical perspective.
Zheng said that on the new journey of the nation’s 15th Five-Year Plan, we must be good at summarising historical experience and lessons, deeply grasp the theoretical, historical and practical logic embedded in the coordination of development and security, strengthen our sense of urgency, remain vigilant even in times of peace, and earnestly place development and security on an equally important position.
Second, Zheng said, we must plan Macau’s coordination of development and security with a strong sense of responsibility.
Zheng said that on the new journey of the nation’s 15th Five-Year Plan, Macau must base itself on better integrating into and serving the nation’s overall development, and play an irreplaceable role in helping the country seize the initiative in major-power competition and advance Chinese-style modernisation.
Third, Zheng said, we must advance Macau’s coordination of development and security with a broad strategic vision.
On the new journey of the 15th Five-Year Plan, Zheng said, Macau must seize the major historical opportunities brought by national development and align with the nation’s the 15th Five-Year Plan, while upholding and improving its executive-led system, solidly promoting its appropriate economic diversification, expanding the local forces promoting patriotism and love for Macau, and enhancing governance effectiveness.
Zheng also said that “looking around the world today, regional wars and conflicts are occurring frequently, bringing profound suffering and disaster to local populations. In contrast, our country enjoys peace and stability, with a unique and favourable situation. Facts have eloquently proved that only when the country is secure can families be well, and only when the great motherland is prosperous and strong can the hundreds of millions of people enjoy happy lives.”
Yesterday evening’s event, which lasted from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Forum Macao in Sai Van, included a 30-minute cultural stage performance by various groups as well as a 10-minute drone show near Macau Tower that displayed slogans promoting national security education.
About 480 people attended the ceremony including Edmund Ho Hau Wah, Macau’s first chief executive and currently vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) in Beijing. Foreign Ministry Commissioner Bian Lixin and local PLA garrison commander Chen Wensheng were also in attendance.
Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai addresses yesterday’s opening ceremony of the 2026 National Security Education Exhibition at the Forum Macao complex.
Central People’s Government Liaison Office in Macau Director Zheng Xincong addresses yesterday’s ceremony at the Forum Macao complex. – Photos: GCS
Guided by a robot, dignitaries including (from left to right, front) Chen Wensheng, Bian Lixin, Zheng Xincong, Edmundo Ho Hau Wah, and Sam Hou Fai visit the exhibition after yesterday’s ceremony. – Photo: GCS
