The government of China's Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) held a flag-raising ceremony and a reception on Wednesday to celebrate the 24th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland.
Following the flag-raising ceremony held at the Golden Lotus Square, a reception was hosted by the Macao SAR government at the China-Portuguese-speaking Countries Commercial and Trade Service Platform Complex.
Ho Iat Seng, chief executive of the Macao SAR, said at the reception that the Macao SAR government constantly improved the legal system and enforcement mechanism for safeguarding national security, strengthened the legal management of the gambling industry and prepared the first comprehensive and systematic diversified development plan in the history of Macao.
Noting that the Macao SAR government accelerated the construction of Guangdong-Macao in-depth cooperation zone in Hengqin and continuously expanded foreign exchanges and cooperation in the past year, Ho said Macao's economy has recovered rapidly and its society has maintained harmony and stability.
Ho said, in the coming year, the Macao SAR government will make greater efforts to firmly safeguard national security and social stability and promote the high-quality development of Macao's economy.
Macao will give full play to its own advantages and better integrate itself into the overall development of the country, Ho added.
Noting next year marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of People's Republic of China and 25th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland, Ho said the SAR government will seize the historical opportunities brought about by national development, continue to promote the successful practice of "One Country, Two Systems" with Macao characteristics and make greater contributions to the building of a strong country and national rejuvenation.
More than 1,000 guests, including Ho Hau Wah, vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, Zheng Xincong, director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Macao SAR and Liu Xianfa, commissioner of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Macao SAR attended the reception.
(Cover: A flag-raising ceremony marking the 24th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland is held at the Golden Lotus Square in Macao, south China, December 20, 2023. /Xinhua)