The Chief Executive, Mr Ho Iat Seng, took part on Wednesday (27 January) in video link meetings with, respectively, President Xi Jinping and Premier of the State Council, Mr Li Keqiang. The virtual meetings were arranged in order for Mr Ho to give his report to the state leaders on the Macao SAR Government's work in 2020 and the city's current situation.
President Xi said the report on 2020’s work had been held online in compliance with epidemic prevention and control efforts.
The year 2020 had marked the beginning of the Chief Executive’s term of office and the start of the new-term Government. In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Chief Executive and the Macao SAR Government had responded promptly, with effective measures, controlling in a short period of time the spread of the disease locally, President Xi said. Macao had been able to record zero local infection cases for more than 300 consecutive days. The Macao SAR Government’s epidemic control effort had won plaudits from the Macao public and many others, the President noted.
While engaging in prevention and control work in relation to the COVID-19 epidemic, effective measures had been taken to restore the city’s economy and overcome local people's difficulties. These measures had achieved positive results and promoted social harmony in Macao, President Xi noted. The Central Government fully acknowledged the work done by the Chief Executive and the Macao SAR Government, President Xi said.
President Xi stressed that the Central Government had always cared about the well-being of the Macao public and the development path of Macao. The Central Government would fully support Macao in its coordinated effort for epidemic prevention and control, and for socio-economic development. It would also support Macao in its optimisation of law-based governance and the implementation of mechanisms relating to the safeguarding of national security. The Central Government would also support Macao in its pursuit of adequate economic diversification, as well as support the city in its further integration in the country’s development framework, for the advancement of the successful implementation of the principle “One country, two systems” with Macao characteristics.
The Chief Executive expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the Central Government for its care for, and support of, Macao. Mr Ho said he would continue to lead and unite people across all sectors in Macao in order to fulfil Macao’s constitutional duties in safeguarding the sovereignty, security and development interests of the country. Macao would work diligently in line with the country’s 14th Five-Year Plan and its new development pattern, while making endeavours for the successful implementation of “One country, two systems” with Macao characteristics.
In a separate virtual meeting, Premier Li Keqiang said the Chief Executive and the Macao SAR Government had taken a number of effective measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and had launched a series of initiatives to stabilise the economy, ensuring employment and relieving the burdens of the local people. Once the situation in relation to the epidemic had stabilised at local levels, the Macao SAR Government would make a timely effort to foster adequate economic diversification and expedite Guangdong-Macao cooperation projects, and so maintain bright prospects for Macao’s development. The Central Government fully affirmed the work of the Chief Executive and the Macao SAR Government, Premier Li said.
Premier Li stated the Central Government would be steadfast in relation to the “One country, two systems” principle, and fully support law-based governance by the Macao SAR Government, led by the Chief Executive. The Premier said he hoped the Macao SAR Government would: continue with the epidemic prevention and control work; make further effort to stabilise the economy and enhance people’s livelihoods; devote further effort in advancing adequate economic diversification; make better use of the city’s unique strengths in connecting China to overseas countries; and play a more active role in the country’s strategic development.
During the meeting, the Chief Executive noted 2020 had been an arduous year. The COVID-19 pandemic had wrought serious effects on Macao’s economy. With the care and support of the Central Government, the Macao SAR Government had taken a series of anti-epidemic measures in order to ensure social harmony as well as the stability of the local economy and of the local community. Regarding the outlook for 2021, Mr Ho said the Macao SAR Government would: devote further effort in epidemic control and prevention; integrate Macao in the country’s development strategies; expedite local economic recovery; and propel progress towards new milestones in relation to Macao’s development.
