BEIJING – First Vice Premier Han Zheng met on Thursday with a delegation from Macau at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
The delegation consisted of representatives from the Macau Federation of Trade Unions, the General Union of Macau Neighbourhood Associations and the Women’s General Association of Macau. Locally, the three influential groups are customarily known by their abbreviated names in Cantonese – Gung Luen, Kai Fong and Fu Luen respectively.
Han, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, said the central government will continue to unswervingly and fully implement the principle of “One Country, Two Systems,” uphold the authority of the nation’s Constitution and the Macau Basic Law and ensure that the practice of “One Country, Two Systems” is always advancing along the right direction.
Speaking highly of the three organisations that love both the country and Macau, Han encouraged them to make greater contributions to building a better Macau and achieving the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. He described the three groups as the “driving forces” of patriotism in Macau.
During the meeting, Han pointed out that 2019 marks the 20th anniversary of Macau’s return to the motherland and the establishment of the Macau Special Administrative Region (MSAR).
Han also said that the three groups’ visit to the nation’s capital was very meaningful. The 65-year-old former mayor and party chief of Shanghai also pointed out that President Xi Jinping attaches great importance to Macau’s development. He underlined that Xi has made many important speeches about Macau and sent two letters, one to the elderly and the other to students, in Macau this year. Han said this shows that Xi cares deeply for Macau.
Han, one of the central government’s four vice-premiers, also emphasised that Xi praised Macau recently for being an example for the whole world of the successful practice of the “One Country, Two Systems” principle with Macau characteristics during the past two decades.
The MSAR was established on December 20, 1999.
Han, one of the seven members of the Standing Committee of the CPC Politburo, urged the three organisations to continue their role as important driving forces for the successful implementation of the “One Country, Two Systems” principle, and also to give their full backing to Macau’s chief executive and the local government in running the MSAR in accordance with the law. He also urged them to help promote Macau’s integration into the nation’s overall development.
Macau is a member of the Greater Bay Area (GBA) conurbation development project. The GBA comprises Macau and Hong Kong – the nation’s two special administrative regions – as well as nine cities in Guangdong province including Zhuhai and Shenzhen.
Han also underlined the three organisations’ important role in safeguarding Macau’s prosperity and stability. According to the Macau Post Daily, he also said they should continue to promote the core values of loving the country and loving Macau, urging them to further strengthen their efforts to build a better Macau.
