Chief Executive of China's Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR), Ho Iat Seng, said on Friday that it is necessary to make proactive moves to realize substantial progress in appropriate economic diversification in the Year of the Dragon.

In his message for the Chinese New Year, Ho said that the past Year of the Rabbit witnessed Macao's recovery from the pandemic and its robust development.

Looking ahead to the new year, Ho said, "We will meet the phased goals laid out in the Master Plan of the Development of the Guangdong-Macao Intensive Cooperation Zone in Hengqin at a faster pace and prioritize the growth of the Cooperation Zone."

"More efforts will also be made to conduct external exchange so that Macao can integrate itself better into the overall national development," he added.

Zheng Xincong, director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Macao SAR, said on Friday that this year marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China and the 25th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland.

He expressed hopes that Macao would better integrate into the country's overall development, give full play to its unique advantages and further promote exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations. Zheng also wished Macao compatriots better well-being.

Liu Xianfa, commissioner of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Macao SAR, said in his New Year message that in the past year, the SAR's chief executive and government have united and led all sectors of society, achieving remarkable results in promoting the development of various undertakings.

In the new year, Liu noted, the foreign affairs office will fully support Macao to govern according to law, actively help the SAR expand foreign exchanges and cooperation, firmly shoulder the responsibility of "diplomacy for the people" and "diplomacy for Macao" and earnestly implement the purpose of serving the SAR.