Macao celebrates the 20th anniversary of its return to China; Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Chief Executive Carrie Lam visits Beijing for her duty report; Russian President Vladimir Putin holds his annual press conference; U.S.-India 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue starts in Washington, DC.

December 20 marks the 20th anniversary of Macao's return to China and Chinese President Xi Jinping will be in Macao from December 18 to 20 to attend the anniversary celebrations.

The newly appointed principal officials of the fifth-term government of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) and the prosecutor general of the Public Prosecutions Office will take office on the gathering day in accordance with the Basic Law of the Macao SAR.

Over the past two decades, the Macao SAR has made great strides in economic development and achieved prosperity and stability under the "One Country, Two Systems" principle. 

Read more:

Macao's economic takeoff over the past 20 years

Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Chief Executive Carrie Lam is in Beijing for her duty report from December 14 to 17, during which she will brief state leaders on the latest economic, social and political situation in the SAR.

All eyes will be on her duty report and her meetings with the state leaders as the HKSAR has been through a tough time in the past few months. This will be Lam's third annual duty visit.

The Kremlin has accredited a total of 1,895 reporters to attend Russian President Vladimir Putin's 15th annual press conference, which is set to take place on December 19.

The 2018 annual press conference lasted over three hours. And in his longest press conference in 2008, Putin answered 106 questions.

What new messages will the president give on issues related to the U.S., China, Syria and so on?

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Secretary of Defense Mark Esper will host India's Minister of External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and Defense Minister Rajnath Singh on December 18 for the 2019 U.S.-India 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue in Washington.

Foreign policy, defense and security issues, as well as cooperation in regional and global issues, will be on the agenda. The inaugural U.S.-India 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue was held in New Delhi last September.

Day by day: 

Monday: HKSAR Chief Executive Carrie Lam continues her duty visit in Beijing (to Tuesday), the 14th Asia and Europe Foreign Ministers' Meeting continues in Madrid, Spain.

Tuesday: Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev visits Japan.

Wednesday: U.S.-India 2+2 dialogue begins in Washington, DC.

Thursday: Russian President Vladimir Putin's annual press conference is held, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani begins his possible visit to Japan for talks with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Friday: Russian President Vladimir Putin holds talks with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, the 20th anniversary of Macao's return to China and the establishment of the Macao SAR.

Saturday: A quiet day in politics. 

Sunday: Uzbekistani Legislative Chamber election starts.

(With input from agencies)