The key takeaways from Chinese President Xi Jinping’s speech in Macau on Friday were that Beijing was committed to maintaining the “one country, two systems” governing principle, but the city and Hong Kong must reposition themselves to better implement the policy given challenges in the new era, political observers have said.
That repositioning included intensifying the cities’ industrial transformation and increasing their international influence to help the country better tap into the world market, they said.
Xi officiated at the inauguration of Macau’s sixth-term administration led by Chief Executive Sam Hou-fai at the Macau East Asian Games Dome, hours before he wrapped up his three-day visit to the city to mark its 25th anniversary of returning to Chinese administration.
In his 30-minute speech, the president stressed the one country, two systems principle was “a good policy” to maintain stability and prosperity, contribute to national rejuvenation and achieve coexistence among different social systems.
The principle should be safeguarded by the world since its core tenets of “peace, tolerance, openness and sharing” corresponded not only to China’s core values but also the world’s, he said.
“The current and coming period is a crucial time for comprehensively promoting the great endeavours of building a powerful country and national rejuvenation through Chinese-style modernisation,” Xi told the attendees.