President Xi Jinping today joined chorus singers in a rendition of “Ode to My Motherland” during a gala performance to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Macao’s return to the motherland.

President Xi and his wife – together with the Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, and his wife; and the Fifth-term Chief Executive, Mr Ho Iat Seng, accompanied by his wife – attended the gala performance, along with approximately 1000 other guests.

President Xi arrived in Macao during the afternoon of Wednesday (18 December) for a three-day visit.

Today’s 70-minute gala performance, with the theme “Passion of Macao, Heart of China”, was hosted by the Government of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) and organised by the Cultural Affairs Bureau. It was held from 8pm in the Macao East Asian Games Dome.

Macao’s transformation and achievements were showcased in the performance. It told the story of Macao’s active participation in national development, and how it was accomplished thanks to the city playing to its strengths. The performance also expressed Macao people’s aspirations and their faith in future improvement.

The gala performance opened with a lion dance, an activity that is listed as part of national intangible cultural heritage. The dance was followed by the curtain-raiser song “My Motherland and I”.

The show featured various acts by singers, troupes of artists, and community organisations, from – respectively – the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan. They presented interpretations – via music, dance and martial arts – of Macao’s famous landmarks, culture, festive events and notable people.

President Xi will attend the 20th Anniversary Celebration of Macao’s Return to the Motherland and the Inauguration Ceremony of the Fifth-term Government of the Macao SAR, tomorrow (Friday) morning.

After those ceremonies, President Xi is scheduled to meet with the newly-inaugurated officials representing respectively the public administration, the legislature, and the judiciary of the Macao SAR. The President is due to leave Macao that afternoon.