Remarks by Commissioner of Chinese Foreign Ministry in the Macao Special Administrative Region Bian Lixin at the Welcome Reception

Distinguished Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai,
Distinguished Vice Chairman Ho Hau Wah,
Distinguished Director Zheng Xincong, 
Distinguished Mr. Ho Iat Seng,
Distinguished Deputy Commander Dai Jingsong, 
Distinguished President Cheong Weng Chon, 
Distinguished President Song Man Lei,
Distinguished Consuls General and Representatives of international organizations,
Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, and friends:

Happy Chinese New Year! I am honored to be appointed as the eighth Commissioner of the Commissioner's Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the Macao Special Administrative Region. First of all, on behalf of the Commissioner's Office, I would like to extend a warm welcome to all distinguished guests. I would also express my heartfelt gratitude to the SAR government, all sectors of Macao society, central government agencies stationed in Macao, foreign consulates and international organizations for your long-term support for the work of the Commissioner's Office.

In less than a month since arriving in Macao, I have visited old and new friends from all walks of life, toured the historic center such as the Ruins of St. Paul's, A-Ma Temple and the Lilau Square, and enjoyed the Gigantic Golden Dragon Parade during the warm and bustling Chinese New Year. I have a keen sense that Macao is a place where East meets West and different ethnic groups coexist in harmony, illustrating the concept of beauty in diversity. I have a keen sense that Macao is a place where the core values of loving the country and Macao have taken roots and flourished, and an enormous success was achieved in advancing the cause of "One Country, Two Systems" with distinctive Macao features, continuously increasing its international stands.

On this occasion, I would like to extend my highest respect to everyone present. I also look forward to working with my colleagues to make more contributions to ensuring the steady and sustained development of the cause of "One Country, Two Systems" with distinctive Macao features.

Ladies and gentlemen, and friends,

The past year of 2025 was the final year of the nation's 14th Five-Year Plan. Over the past 5 years, under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, and with the joint efforts of all ethnic groups across the country including our Macao compatriots, Chinese modernization has scored historic achievements with China's major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics forging ahead and the cause of "One Country, Two Systems" with distinctive Macao features opening up new prospects.

The journey of building a great country and rejuvenating the nation has been magnificent and fruitful. China is the most stable and reliable engine of global development, with its Gross Domestic Product reaching a new milestone of 140 trillion Yuan that contributes around 30% to the world economic growth. New breakthroughs have been achieved in scientific and technological innovation with the innovation index ranking among the top ten in the world. New-quality productivity has been rapidly upgraded, driving the transformation of "Made in China" to "Created in China". We have won the largest and most impactful battle against poverty in human history as scheduled, making a significant contribution to global poverty reduction. Through the continued efforts during the 14th Five-Year Plan period, China has laid a solid foundation for starting a new journey towards its second centenary goal.

Major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics has entered a new stage with a stronger sense of responsibility. Under the stewardship of President Xi, major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics guided by head-of-state diplomacy, has been upholding the banner of building a community with a shared future for humanity and safeguarding core national interests and international justice, injecting stability and positive energy into a world fraught with turmoil. President Xi has successively proposed four major Global Initiatives, which constitute an organic whole where development promotes prosperity, security ensures stability, civilization deepens trust, and governance advances justice, steering the major changes of the world in the right direction. China's global partnership have increased to 153 pairs, with unilateral visa-free access for 50 countries and transit visa-free for 55 countries, making "China Travel" and "Chinese Lifestyle" popular worldwide. We are fully committed to "diplomacy for the people". We are in the diplomatic service that can always be counted on to care for our people including Macao compatriots and help them come home wherever they are.

The practice of "One Country, Two Systems" with distinctive Macao features has made new progress and achieved new breakthroughs. President Xi inspected Macao on the 25th anniversary of its return to the motherland and delivered a series of important speeches, setting direction for the cause of "One Country, Two Systems" with distinctive Macao features. The Chief Executive and the SAR government, uniting and leading all sectors of society, have fully implemented "Patriots governing Macao", upheld and improved the executive-led system, firmly safeguarded national security, accelerated appropriate economic diversification, and comprehensively improved governance efficiency. Macao has made solid progress in the building of "One Center, One Platform, One Base", and the establishment of China-Portuguese (Spanish) Speaking Countries Economic and Trade Service Center to expand and deepen pragmatic cooperation with relevant countries. The city has successively won the titie of "Best BT-MICE City" and "Best Convention Destination(Asia)", hosted serial events as the Culture City of East Asia, and expanded its sister cities around the world. Macao now enjoys greater international influence and higher international reputation. 

Ladies and gentlemen, and friends,

This year marks the start of the nation's 15th Five-Year Plan and Macao's 3rd Five-Year Plan as the grand blueprint for the development of Chinese modernization in the next five years unfolds. Riding the wind of the national efforts to build a great country and advance national rejuvenation, Macao will surely open up a new horizon and achieve new advances in development.

    On this new journey, Macao will undoubtedly play a more significant role in promoting economic diversification through expanding external exchanges and cooperation. The 15th Five-Year Plan highlights Macao's role as "One Center, One Platform, One Base" to promote appropriate economic diversification. With the concerted effort of the Macao SAR government and all sectors of its society, and with the strong support of the great motherland, Macao will surely seize the opportunity to forge head with determination, further expand and deepen international exchanges and cooperation, actively participate in the high-quality development of Belt and Road cooperation, so as to accelerate its appropriate economic diversification and to better act as an important bridge for China's high-standard opening up.

On this new journey, Macao's determined reform in enhancing governance efficiency in external affairs will undoubtedly achieve greater results. President Xi emphasized the importance of upholding and improving Macao's executive-led system to enhance its governance efficiency. Macao's success since its return to the motherland has proven that executive-led governance offers advantages in upholding fundamental principles while breaking new grounds and ensuring consistent policy, effectively improving Macao's international competitiveness and global influence. Macao will surely leverage the strengths of its executive-led system to consolidate efforts to expand its international connections in step with the times as a bridge connects with both the mainland and the world, and play a more active role on the international stage.

On this new journey, Macao's unique strengths in serving major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics will undoubtedly lead to greater achievements. "One Country, Two Systems" with distinctive Macao features is a good system for ensuring peaceful coexistence and mutual benefit between different social system. The values embodied in the cause of "One Country, Two Systems", namely, peace, inclusiveness, openness and sharing, are relevant to not only China but also the whole world. Macao will surely shoulder it responsibility and leverage its unique strengths to turn the city into an important window of exchanges between Chinese and Western civilizations, making more Macao's contributions to serving the major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics in the new era.

We firmly believe that under the strong leadership of the central government and the great support of the mainland, Macao, led by the Chief executive and with the joint efforts of all sectors of society will surely embrace a brighter future!

Ladies and gentlemen, and friends,

Guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy, the Commissioner's Office will align our work with the new development goals of the 15th Five-Year Plan, further strengthen the barrier of national security in Macao, concretely implement "diplomacy benefiting Macao", assist Macao to expand external exchanges and cooperation, fully support the successful hosting of the APEC 13th Tourism Ministerial Meeting, promote international cooperation in the Guangdong-Macao in-depth

cooperation zone in Hengqin to accelerate Macao's appropriate economic diversification, help more Macao youth broaden their international horizons, tell the story of Macao and the value of "One Country, Two Systems", and better protect the legitimate rights and interests of Macao compatriots overseas.

With a long road ahead, we must work harder and now is the time to push forward. The Commissioner's Office is ready to work with all sectors of the SAR to open a new chapter of development with the spirit of a pioneering horse, and to take concrete actions to bring our work to a new level, making greater contributions to promoting Macao's long-term prosperity and stability.

Now, please join me in a toast:

To the prosperity of our great motherland; 

To the thriving development of Macao; and

To the health and happiness of all of you and your families in the Year of Horse,

Cheers!