Chief Executive Fernando Chui Sai On said Monday the main priority of his governance this year was to ensure the smooth transition to a new local government and the successful organisation of the so-called “double celebration”.
In a speech at the Spring Festival reception hosted by the Central People’s Government Liaison Office in Macau at Macau Tower, Chui pointed out that this year marks the “double celebration” of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the 20th anniversary of Macau’s return to the motherland.
The PRC was founded on October 1, 1949. The Macau Special Administrative Region (MSAR) was established on December 20, 1999.
Chui’s successor, who will be elected by a 400-member election committee in the summer, will take office on December 20 this year. So far, no chief executive candidate has come forward.
Chui said his government would actively collaborate with all sectors of civil society to jointly maintain stability and to create the right working environment so that all the three tasks – two celebratory events and the change in government – can be carried out in an “orderly, safe and stable” manner.
The chief executive, who is serving out the final year of his second and constitutionally last consecutive 5-year term, also said that his government would continue to be committed to safeguarding Macau’s “progress and stability”. He singled out the aims of stable economic development, a better living standard for the population and the promotion of social harmony.
Chui also pledged his government’s continued adherence to the constitutional duty of defending national security. He also said that Macau would pro-actively participate in the central government’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and Greater Bay Area (GBA) conurbation project and also ensure Macau’s further integration into national development.
Chui also underlined President Xi Jinping’s role as the nation’s core leader and the importance of implementing the spirit of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, which was held in Beijing in October 2017.
Chui, who holds a PhD in Public Health, also said that the local government would continue its “close and permanent” dialogue with the Liaison Office.
