Without the Communist Party of China (CPC) there would be no New China, and without the Party’s leadership there would be no prosperous and stable Macao under the “One Country, Two Systems” principle, Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng said yesterday.
Ho made the remarks at the opening ceremony of a photo exhibition in celebration of the 100th Anniversary of the Founding of the Communist Party of China. The large-scale exhibition runs until 15 July, reported The Macau Post Daily.
“History is the best textbook,” Ho said about the Party’s “100 years of continuous struggle to unite and lead the Chinese people to accomplish world-renowned achievements in the history of the development of the Chinese nation and the progress of human society.”
The chief executive, a former member of the elite Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC), also said that without the Party’s leadership China would not have been able to achieve what it is today, and neither would it have achieved the international status that it has today.
Ho also pointed out that the successful resumption of the nation’s exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong and Macao in 1997 and 1999 respectively “cleared away the centuries of humiliation for the Chinese nation,” adding that the CPC “is the pioneer, leader, practitioner and defender of the cause of the ‘One Country, Two Systems’ principle in Macao.”
The chief executive, who has been at the helm of the local government since December 2019, also said that the Macao Special Administrative Region (MSAR) will “unswervingly implement the principle of ‘Patriots Governing Macao’ and continue to consolidate the social and political foundations of ‘Loving the Country and Loving Macao’.”
Ho, an ex-president of the local legislature and former business community leader, also said that “our country is closer to the goal of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation than at any time in history,” adding: “We firmly believe that under the strong leadership of the CPC, the cause of the ‘One Country, Two Systems’ with Macao characteristics will surely proceed steadily and go far.”
Meanwhile, Central People’s Government Liaison Office in the MSAR Director Fu Ziying stressed in his speech that “in Macao society, we must always adhere to the leadership of the CPC and resolutely defend the nation’s sovereignty, security and development interests.”
Fu, the central government’s highest-ranked official posted to Macao, also said that “we must draw a clear line” between patriotic forces and separatist forces seeking independence for Hong Kong and Taiwan by resolutely opposing them
Fu also said that the Party is determined to ensure that the “One Country, Two Systems” principle will not be deformed, adding that the practice of the principle “has withstood the test of time and achieved great success, and it will continue to write colourful chapters.”
Fu also said that efforts should be made to maintain in the local community the core value of “Loving the Country and Loving Macao” and ensure the implementation of the fundamental principle of “Patriots Governing Macao.
