Hu attends anniversary celebrations of Macao's return to motherland

President Hu Jintao attended here the celebrations of the 5th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland and the inauguration of the second-term government of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) Monday morning.

At 9:30 a.m., the meeting began with the participation of more than 600 people.

Edmund Ho Hau Wah was first sworn in as the chief executive of the second-term government of the Macao SAR, followed by the principal officials of the second-term government and members of the second-term Executive Council of the Macao SAR. President Hu administered the oath taking.

Hu, also general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and chairman of the CPC Central Military Commission, arrived here Sunday morning.

Ho said after the oath taking that in the next five years, "the Macao SAR government will strive to attain our administrative goals and build on our achievements, with a practical and forward-looking approach, and in accordance with the law."

"We will continue to enrich and expand the foundations of our future development and explore new potential for progress. We will ensure that the existing advantages of our society are given full play," he said.

The chief executive added that his government will also continue its concern for imbalances in social development, and encourage universal advancement and mutual support among different sectors of the society.

Ho stressed that "we must always bear in mind the political principles and wisdom of 'one country, two systems' and 'Macao people governing Macao' with a high degree of autonomy, and ensure that we achieve results in all these values and areas of our work."

In his speech at the meeting, President Hu extended, on behalf of the central government and people of all ethnic groups of the country, sincere greetings to the people of various circles in Macao and warm congratulations to Edmund Ho Hau Wah, and the principal officials and Executive Council members of the second-term SAR government.

Hu said the past five years have seen the successful implementation of the principle of "one country, two systems" and that Macao society has taken on a new look.

The president added that "one country, two systems" is an unprecedented undertaking. While socialism is practiced in the main body of the country, how to properly administrate, build and develop the two SARs of Hong Kong and Macao, where capitalism is practiced in line with the "one country, two systems" principle, and maintain their long-term prosperity and stability, is a brand-new subject for the central government. It is also a brand-new subject for the two SAR governments.

He stressed that therefore, "it is necessary for both the central government and the two SAR governments, as well as the Hong Kong and Macao compatriots, to actively explore the ways to implement the 'one country, two systems' principle as they go forward."

The president said, "In doing so, we might as well encounter some problems, as the undertaking has never been tried before. We must correctly analyze and properly handle these problems."

Hu stressed that the key to doing so is to accurately understand and implement the "one country, two systems" principle, act in strict accordance with the Hong Kong and Macao Basic Laws in administration, adhere to "Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong" and "Macao people governing Macao" with patriots as the main body, and achieve the broadest-based unity under the banner of loving the motherland, loving Hong Kong and loving Macao.

President Hu said that he expected the Macao SAR government will always put the people first and constantly improve the level of governance and to concentrate resources on more vigorously promoting sustained and healthy economic development in Macao.

The president also suggested that the Macao SAR government be farsighted, step up training of personnel for Macao's future development, safeguard stability, and build an inclusive and harmonious society.

Present at the meeting were Hu Jintao's wife Liu Yongqing; Wang Gang, alternative member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee; Tang Jiaxuan, state councilor; Liao Hui, vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and head of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office under the State Council; and Liang Guanglie, member of the Central Military Commission and chief of the General Staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA).

Ma Man Kei, vice-chairman of the National Committee of the CPPCC, Bai Zhijian, director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Macao SAR, Wan Yongxiang, commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Macao SAR, Liu Lianhua, commander of the Chinese PLA Garrison Troops in the Macao SAR, and Yang Zhongmin, political commissar of the Chinese PLA Garrison Troops in the Macao SAR, were also present on the occasion.

Artists from the mainland, Hong Kong, Macao and overseas staged performances at the celebration gathering.

Source: Xinhua