President Xi Jinping said upon arrival in Macau on Wednesday that the central government and the Chinese people are proud of the achievements and progress of Macau since its return to the motherland 20 years ago.
Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), made the remarks after landing at the local airport on Wednesday afternoon.
“I am very happy to come to beautiful Macau again. In October, we held a grand celebration for the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. The 20th anniversary of Macau’s return to the motherland is another major event,” Xi said in a short speech at the airport.
Xi extended warm congratulations and best wishes to Macau compatriots on the occasion.
“It is worthwhile to sum up the experience and characteristics of Macau in faithfully implementing ‘One Country, Two Systems’,” he said.
“We will join hands to draw the blueprint for Macau’s future development,” Xi said.
Xi is paying a three-day visit to Macau, his sixth working visit since 2000. He visited Macau twice as governor of Fujian province, in 2000 and 2001, to promote economic, trade and cultural cooperation between the two sides. His third visit took place in 2005, when he headed the CPC committee of Zhejiang province. In 2009, Xi visited Macau in his then capacity as vice-president. His fifth visit took place in December 2014 when as president he visited Macau for the 15th anniversary of the founding of the Macau Special Administrative Region (MSAR).
Warm welcome
Xi was warmly welcomed by a cheering crowd of 400 pupils waving national and MSAR flags. About 100 media workers covered his arrival.
In his speech, Xi pointed out that Macau is a city that he is familiar with. He also said he was looking forward to meeting people from all walks of life in the next few days in order to exchange views of mutual concern. Xi was visibly happy upon arrival in Macau.
On the airport apron Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan were greeted by outgoing Chief Executive Fernando Chui Sai On and his wife Winnie Fok Wai Fung, Chief Executive-designate Ho Iat Seng and his wife Cheng Soo Ching, Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference National Committee Vice Chairman (CPPCC) Vice Chairman Edmund Ho Hau Wah (the MSAR’s first chief executive) and other senior local and mainland officials including Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government Director Fu Ziying and Foreign Ministry Commissioner Shen Beili, the local government’s five policy secretaries and top judicial officials.
From the airport, Xi and his entourage were driven to the central government’s San Chok Un Guesthouse on Penha Hill where the president held a formal meeting with Chui, who will be succeeded by Ho Iat Seng tomorrow.
The president’s delegation includes States Councillor-com Foreign Minister Wang Yi and the State Council Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office (HMAO) Zhang Xiaoming.
On Thursday, Xi will meet top officials of the government, legislature and judiciary as well as community leaders. Thursday evening Xi will attend a welcoming banquet hosted by the local government and watch a variety show at the East Asian Games Dome in Cotai.
According to the Macau Post Daily, the president will attend a gathering celebrating the 20th anniversary of Macau’s return to the motherland and the swearing-in ceremony of the fifth-term MSAR government tomorrow, when he will also meet with the principal officials of the new administration.
Xi, who arrived on Wednesday from the island province of Hainan where he presided over the commissioning of the nation’s first domestically build air craft carrier on Tuesday, will leave Macau Friday afternoon.
