China's top legislator urges Macao SAR to keep successfully practicing "one country, two systems"

China's top legislator Zhang Dejiang on May 10 wrapped up his three-day inspection of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR), calling on the SAR to make greater efforts to keep being a good model of successfully practicing "one country, two systems."

Since Macao's return to the motherland more than 17 years ago, the SAR has witnessed overall progress in socio-economic life, with remarkable achievements made in practicing "one country, two systems," Zhang said.

He noted the effective implementation of the central government's overall jurisdiction, the full guarantee of the SAR's right to a high degree of autonomy and the sound function of the administration-led system.

Zhang called on the SAR to earnestly implement the important instructions of President Xi Jinping on the SAR's work and make concerted and redoubled efforts to work for the development of the SAR and the motherland.

Zhang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, arrived in the Macao SAR on Monday.

In a speech delivered at the airport upon arrival, Zhang conveyed the sincere greetings and wishes from President Xi and the central government to Macao compatriots.

During his inspection here, Zhang met with Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Ho Hau Wah and Macao SAR Chief Executive Chui Sai On separately and spoke highly of their contributions to the motherland as well as the Macao SAR.

While hearing report on the work of the SAR government, Zhang noted that the current SAR administration has seized the strategic opportunities brought about by the country's 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-2020) and the Belt and Road Initiative and pushed ahead with Macao's role as "one center, one platform."

Macao is striving to become a world tourism and leisure center and a platform for business and trade cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries.

Zhang noted that the current SAR administration has made positive progress in promoting appropriate diversification of economic development and increasing improvement of people's livelihood.

At a symposium attended by more than 150 representatives from all walks of life in the SAR, Zhang called for cherishing the successful experience of the SAR's development, and accurately following through the principle of "one country, two systems" and the Basic Law.

He also called for further implementing the central government's overall jurisdiction over the SAR and the SAR's right to a high degree of autonomy in accordance with law so as to push for the economic development and the improvement of people's well-being.

The mainstream values of promoting outstanding Chinese culture and loving the country and Macao should be carried forward, so as to continuously expand the forces of loving the country and Macao, and to nurture the talent for the Macao SAR's development, Zhang said, adding that a solid foundation in this regard should be laid.

When inspecting the SAR's Legislative Council, Zhang noted that the SAR's Legislative Council has earnestly performed its duties to support, coordinate and supervise the SAR government according to law, and has contributed significantly to Macao's prosperity and stability, rule of law and social advancement.

Zhang also met with the SAR's judges and prosecutors when inspecting the SAR's judicial organs, and encouraged them to firmly establish consciousness about the Constitution and the Basic Law.

In meeting with representatives from Macao's education sector, Zhang said educators should always stick to right direction and lead students to build character, learn knowledge, gain innovative thinking and serve the country.

He hoped young students to have high aspirations and connect individual fates with the development of the country and the SAR, and cherish deep love for the country and the SAR, as well as aspirations to serve them.

During his inspection, Zhang was also briefed on the construction of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and visited "Joy in Abundance" Family Support Center of the Women's General Association of Macao.

He also met with heads of the central government agencies and key Chinese-funded institutions in the Macao SAR.