I'm delighted to be with you today in Macao to discuss the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area in the new era.
Macao seems even more beautiful than the last time I was here in May 2008 when I served as the spokesman for the Beijing Olympic Torch Relay. Macao people's enthusiasm for the Olympic Games that was scheduled in Beijing and their love for the country were clear to see.
In all, a quarter-million Macao people and tourists joined the grand occasion and choruses of "Go China and go Olympics" still ring in my ears today.
I still have a very vivid memory of a torch bearer, Mr. Stanley Ho Hung-sun. High-spirited and sprightly, he participated in the relay at the age of 86. I do hope I am as lively when I reach that age.
Since its return to the motherland, Macao’s economy has developed rapidly. Its position as a global tourism and leisure center has been consolidated.And it plays a key role as a platform for deepening trade and economic cooperation between China and Lusophone countries. An increasingly more prosperous Macao is living proof of the successful practice of the "one country, two systems" principle.
As President Xi Jinping has pointed out, socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a new era. And not only has the country's reform and opening-up stepped into a new era, but so too has the principle of "one country, two systems".
At the end of October, the fourth plenary session of the 19th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China passed the CPC Central Committee's Decision on Some Major Issues Concerning How to Uphold and Improve the System of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics and Advance the Modernization of China's System and Capacity for Governance.
《決定》強調,要全面準確貫徹“一國兩制”、“港人治港”、“澳人治澳”、高度自治的方針。
The decision emphasizes that it is necessary to fully and correctly implement the principle of "one country, two systems". That is "Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong" and "Macao people administering Macao" with a high degree of autonomy.
The decision also emphasizes the importance of building a coordinated development mechanism to leverage the complementary advantages of the two special administrative regions and the mainland. Boosting the integration of Hong Kong and Macao with the overall development of the country will create a world-class bay area and world-class city cluster that can be role model for high-quality development. It will support Hong Kong and Macao developing their economies and improving people's lives.
中央高度重視澳門的發展,多年來給予澳門多方面的大力支持,特別是隨著共建“一帶一路”、粵港澳大灣區建設等國家戰略的實施,澳門迎來了重大發展機遇。澳門要把握機遇,創造美好的明天。
The central government attaches great importance to the development of Macao and has given the special administrative region strong support in many aspects over the years. With the implementation of national strategies such as the Greater Bay Area and the Belt and Road Initiative, there are significant opportunities for Macao to grasp to ensure it has a bright future.
Looking back at the 2008 torch relay, we walked a long and hard way to present the world with an "unparalleled" Olympic Games.
Although we face some challenges today, the "one country, two systems" principle will shine more brilliantly in Hong Kong and Macao as long as we unite as one. In doing so, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area will become a dynamic, first-class area with global competitiveness and the dream of the great rejuvenation of Chinese nation is bound to come true.
I would like to end by saying that we all are torch bearers for the new era and the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.
謝謝大家!
Thank you.
The Outline Development Plan for Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area was released in February this year. While the plan puts the Greater Bay Area as a powerhouse, it positions Macao as the "core engine" of this powerhouse, strengthening the radiating effect of Macao in leading regional development.That shows trust of the central government in Macao as well as the great expectation on the future of Macao.
Not only the Macao SAR government but also on the whole society is confident that taking part in the development of the Greater Bay Area brings unprecedented opportunities for our future development.
Being one of the four core cities that play a significant role in the overall development of the Greater Bay Area, Macao shall aim at developing into a world-class tourism and leisure center and a commercial and trade cooperation service platform between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, to promote an appropriate level of diversified economic development and to enhance the Greater Bay Area to developed international markets especially the Portuguese-speaking countries' markets, and develop into a base for exchange and cooperation where Chinese culture is the mainstream and diverse cultures coexist.
On the other hand, we shall pursue the development of the "Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Macao" innovation and technology corridor, which jointly develop a big data center as well as a platform for the international innovation in the Greater Bay Area.
It is expected that the development of the Greater Bay Area will foster the regional economy and development, promoting integration and cooperation and enhance Chinese competitiveness in the global market.
In the new era of the Greater Bay Area, Macao will treasure this magnificent opportunity, taking our own advantages, accelerating our integration into the overall development of the country, dedicating to the development of the Greater Bay Area and the Belt and Road Initiative, and contributing to the sustainable development of a beautiful, smart Greater Bay Area.