President Xi's remarks on Macao

　　People gather at the Ruins of St. Paul's during the Macao Light Festival in the Macao Special Administrative Region on Monday. The festival began on Dec 1 and continues throughout the month. FENG YONGBIN/CHINA DAILY

　　Editor's note:

　　Dec 20 marks the 20th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC in November 2012, President Xi Jinping has commented many times on the development of Macao and the "one country, two systems" principle.

　　Here we present a few of his comments.

　　Commitment to 'one country, two systems'

　　We will continue to fully and faithfully implement the principles of "one country, two systems", "Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong", "Macao people administering Macao" and a high degree of autonomy.

　　--Xi Jinping at the reception in celebration of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, Sept 30, 2019

　　Full support to Macao

　　We will give priority to the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, cooperation between Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao, and regional cooperation in the pan-Pearl River Delta, thus fully advancing mutually beneficial cooperation between the mainland and the two regions.

　　-- Xi Jinping's report at 19th CPC National Congress, Oct 18, 2017

　　Stronger national bond

　　Our fellow countrymen in Macao have gained a growing sense of identity and belonging. The close national bond of "blood being thicker than water" is becoming ever stronger. Love for China and love for Macao have become a prevalent value in Macao society.

　　--Speech at the Meeting Celebrating the 15th Anniversary of Macao's Return to China and the Inaugural Ceremony of the Fourth-term Government of the Macao Special Administrative Region, Dec 20, 2014

　　Position of Macao

　　It is essential to have long-term plans, seize every opportunity created by the national effort to achieve deeper all-round reform, and promote the diverse and sustainable economic development of Macao based on its positioning as a global tourism and leisure hub and a service platform for economic and trade cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries.

　　--Speech at the Meeting Celebrating the 15th Anniversary of Macao's Return to China and the Inaugural Ceremony of the Fourth-term Government of the Macao Special Administrative Region, Dec 20, 2014

　　Education of youth

　　Young people in Macao represent the hope and future not only of Macao, but the whole country. We need to strengthen the education and upbringing of young people to ensure that the worthy tradition of loving the motherland and loving Macao will be carried forward from one generation to another and that the course of "one country, two systems" will be continuously advanced.

　　--Speech at the Meeting Celebrating the 15th Anniversary of Macao's Return to China and the Inaugural Ceremony of the Fourth-term Government of the Macao Special Administrative Region, Dec 20, 2014

　　Importance of 'one country, two systems'

　　We must continue to govern Hong Kong and Macao and uphold the practice of "one country, two systems" according to law. We must both adhere to the one-China principle and respect the differences of the two systems, both uphold the power of the Central Government and ensure a high degree of autonomy in the SARs, both give play to the role of the mainland as the staunch supporter of Hong Kong and Macao and increase their competitiveness.

　　--Speech at the Meeting Celebrating the 15th Anniversary of Macao's Return to China and the Inaugural Ceremony of the Fourth-term Government of the Macao Special Administrative Region, Dec 20, 2014

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　　Realization of the Chinese Dream

　　To realize the Chinese Dream - the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation - Hong Kong, Macao and the Chinese mainland must pool and share our strength, and seek common development.

　　--Talk with Leung Chun-ying, chief executive of the HKSAR, and Fernando Chui Sai-on, chief executive of the MSAR, March 18, 2013

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　　Development of Macao

　　At present, Macao should think of potential problems in times of peace and make a long-term plan. This requires the MSAR government and people of all walks of life in Macao to make continuous efforts to find out how to remain both pragmatic and innovation on the basis of Macao's rapid economic development over the past few years, how to solve problems emerging in the process of development, how to explore ways for the appropriately diversified development of Macao and how to realize sustainable progress for it.

　　--Talk with Fernando Chui Sai-on, chief executive of the MSAR, Dec 18, 2013