The new director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in Macau, Fu Ziying, Monday urged Macau people to continue to contribute to the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations and peaceful reunification of the motherland.
Fu made the appeal in a speech during a special gathering of local government officials and community leaders at the central government’s New Bamboo Garden guesthouse on Penha Hill to commemorate the 40thanniversary of the Chinese mainland’s Message to Compatriots in Taiwan.
On January 1, 1979, the National People’s Congress (NPC) Standing Committee issued the Message to Compatriots in Taiwan, generally considered a declaration of the mainland’s policy of peaceful reunification.
The local gathering took place after President Xi Jinping told a high-level gathering in Beijing last Wednesday that the nation “must be and will be reunified.”
The gathering in Macau was held to study the spirit of Xi’s speech on the Taiwan reunification issue.
Fu said Macau’s greatest contribution to the realisation of the complete reunification of the motherland was its successful implementation of the “One Country, Two System” principle. He also urged Macau to continue to “actively and steadily” carry out non-governmental exchanges with Taiwan, such as by organising more youth exchange programmes, internship and platforms between Taiwan and Macau as a way of deepening mutual understanding and enhancing mutual trust.
Fu, who holds a PhD in economics, also said that more activities steadfastly opposing “Taiwan independence” needed to be actively carried out, pointing out that “Taiwan independence” activities are the biggest obstacle to the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations and the peaceful reunification of the motherland.
“We must continue to carry forward the glorious tradition of patriotism and loving Macau, actively carry out activities opposing ‘Taiwan independence’, resolutely prevent the ‘Taiwan independence’ forces from infiltrating and destroying Macau, resolutely oppose any form of ‘Taiwan independence’ separatism, safeguard Macau’s prosperity and stability, and safeguard the motherland,” Fu said.
Meanwhile, Chief Executive Fernando Chui Sai On said in his speech at the gathering that Macau’s successful implementation of the “One Country, Two Systems” principle was the best solution to the Taiwan reunification issue.
Chui said that “as everyone knows, the concept of ‘One Country, Two Systems’ was first proposed to solve the Taiwan issue, but it was first put into practice in the two special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau.”
The chief executive described the “One Country, Two Systems” principle as a “great concept” of the central authorities, “embodying extraordinary political wisdom and opening up a practical and feasible path for the accomplishment of the peaceful reunification of the motherland.”
Chui also said that the strategic concept of the “One Country, Two Systems” principle put forward by the central authorities “emphasises the seeking of truth from facts and taking into account the interests of all parties.” He also said that Macau had played a “positive and beneficial role” in promoting the development of cross-Strait relations.
Chui’s predecessor Edmund Ho Hau Wah said in his speech that Macau people had always firmly supported the great cause of peaceful reunification of the motherland and firmly opposed “Taiwan independence” separatist activities.
Ho also said that Macau had become an important venue for overseas Chinese to carry out activities opposing “Taiwan independence” moves.
Ho, a vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), also said that Taiwan people “have witnessed the successful implementation of ‘One Country, Two Systems’ in Macau”, adding that “Macau has become an important platform and window for Taiwan compatriots to understand the theory and practice of ‘One Country, Two Systems’.”
Ho quoted Xi as saying that history cannot be chosen, but that the present can be grasped and the future can be created. He urged Macau people to “make new contributions to the promotion of the great cause of peaceful reunification of the motherland”.
Macau’s first chief executive also pointed out that “Macau compatriots and Taiwan compatriots are inextricably linked, and they have sufficient conditions to become bridges and ties to promote the unity and integration of compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.”
Ho urged Macau people to “act positively” and do their part to ensure that Xi’s “ardent expectations” for peaceful reunification of the motherland will be met.
