MACAO: CE expresses gratitude to Central Government for its care shown to Macao’s young people

MACAU, September 22 - The Chief Executive, Mr Sam Hou Fai, expressed heartfelt gratitude, on behalf of the Macao Special Administrative Region (MSAR) Government and all Macao residents, for President Xi Jinping’s and the Central Government’s care for Macao’s young people, as well as for their guidance and support in advancing patriotic education in the MSAR.

Vice Premier of the State Council, Mr Ding Xuexiang, met on Monday (21 September) with the “Salute to the National Flag” Hong Kong and Macao Flag-Raising Teams’ Beijing Visit Delegation, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

During the meeting, Mr Ding conveyed warm greetings from President Xi to all members of the delegation, and stressed that President Xi has always shown deep care and concern for the advancement and development of young people in Hong Kong and Macao. Vice Premier Ding emphasised that when young people in the two regions thrive, Hong Kong and Macao thrive – and so does the nation.

Mr Sam noted that President Xi has consistently assigned high importance to youth development in Macao, providing invaluable direction and encouragement. Vice Premier Ding’s in-person reception of Macao teachers and students participating in this patriotic activity in Beijing – where he encouraged young people to understand the national flag, safeguard the national flag, and bring glory to the national flag – carried profound significance.

The meeting not only demonstrated the Central Government’s deep affection for Macao’s younger generation, but also served as an exemplary lesson in patriotism, said Mr Sam. It would undoubtedly strengthen young people’s sense of national identity and ethnic pride, nurturing a new generation with love for the country and with a spirit of responsibility, thus reinforcing in Macao the foundations of patriotism and national security.

The country’s 15th Five-Year Plan mentioned ethical progress and civic virtue for a New Era, providing clear direction for cultivating patriotism and a global outlook in young people, noted Mr Sam.

Patriotic education is a cornerstone for ensuring the long-term success of the “One country, two systems” principle. Through a systematic national approach to education and practical experiences, young Macao residents could gain a deeper understanding of the nation’s development journey and great achievements. They could also deepen their knowledge of national conditions, the Constitution of the People’s Republic of China, the MSAR’s Basic Law, and national security, as well as strengthen their national consciousness and patriotic spirit. This will ensure that patriotism takes root in the hearts of young people, empowering them to become the driving force behind the growth of patriotic and Macao-loving values, added Mr Sam.

The Chief Executive added that the current “Salute to the National Flag” event was large in scale, far-seeing in its vision, rich in content, and far-reaching in impact. It offered Macao’s teachers and students a valuable platform for study and practice, setting a benchmark for patriotic education initiatives.

Mr Sam expressed hope that the event’s participants would convey, on their return to Macao, the Central Government’s degree of care as well as its expectations of Macao. He also hoped the participants would convey their personal experiences from Beijing, actively sharing them with all sectors of society and the broader public. They should shoulder the mission of their times, serve as messengers and practitioners of patriotism, and become builders of, and successors to, the “One country, two systems” principle.

The MSAR Government will unite and lead all sectors of Macao society in order fully to implement President Xi’s instructions from his important speeches on Macao affairs. The MSAR Government will also earnestly study and act upon Vice Premier Ding’s guidance and expectations regarding youth development, Mr Sam stated.

The MSAR Government will additionally advance patriotic education and publicity about it, creating better conditions for young people’s advancement and development. This will encourage and support all Macao residents – especially the younger generation – to integrate better into and serve the national development agenda, jointly safeguard national security, and contribute greater strength to the enduring success of the “One country, two systems” principle and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

The Chief Executive said the MSAR Government will closely align with the country’s 15th Five-Year Plan and diligently implement all aspects of the Third Five-Year Plan. This includes fully upholding the principle of “patriots governing Macao”; strengthening patriotic education; promoting the spirit of patriotism; continuously expanding and consolidating the patriotic and Macao-loving forces; resolutely implementing the holistic view of national security; and continuously enhancing Macao’s capacity and capabilities in safeguarding national security. By ensuring high-level security, the MSAR Government will support high-quality development and lay a solid foundation for Macao’s long-term prosperity and stability.

The “Salute to the National Flag” Macao delegation, comprising over 300 teachers and students, has been visiting Beijing from 18 to 22 September. The “Salute to the National Flag” event is jointly organised by the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee; the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council; the Beijing Municipal People’s Government; the Hong Kong SAR Government; and the MSAR Government. The event brings together nearly 1,200 representatives from primary-, secondary-, and tertiary-education institutions across Hong Kong and Macao. Through a rich programme of study and practice focused on history, culture, scientific innovation, and study of the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, the young people involved are deepening their ideals and convictions, embracing a sense of national responsibility, and preparing to fulfil the important mission of young people in the New Era.