BEIJING – President Xi Jinping's meeting with Sam Hou-fai, the incoming chief executive of Macao, fully demonstrates the central authorities' wholehearted support for the special administrative region’s development, the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of China's State Council said on Friday.

The Friday meeting in the Chinese capital, Beijing, also reflects the central authorities' earnest expectation for Macao to continuously advance the successful practice of "one country, two systems," said a spokesperson for the office.

The sound environment of Macao today is a vivid testament to the great vitality and strength of the "one country, two systems" principle, the spokesperson said.

ALSO READ: Sam prioritizes ‘one country, two systems’, people’s well-being

During the meeting, President Xi reiterated that the central authorities will stay committed to fully and faithfully implementing the "one country, two systems" principle under which the people of Macao administer Macao with a high degree of autonomy, the spokesperson pointed out, adding that this constitutes the greatest source of confidence for securing steady and continued success of "one country, two systems" in Macao.

The spokesperson also expressed the belief that the new Macao SAR chief executive and government will unite all sectors of the Macao society and continuously break new ground in the practice of "one country, two systems" with Macao characteristics.

Sam, the former top judge of Macao and the lone CE candidate, was backed in the role by the SAR's 400-member electoral college in a near-unanimous vote on Oct 13 in the SAR's sixth-term chief executive election. He received 394 valid votes in his favor. The total number of registered election committee members was 400, with 398 members casting votes.

The decision to appoint Sam as Macao's new chief executive was made at a meeting of the State Council, the nation's Cabinet, presided over by Premier Li Qiang, on Oct 25.

READ MORE: Congratulations pour in for Macao CE-designate

Sam will assume office on Dec 20, taking over from incumbent Ho Iat-seng.

Ho Iat-seng congratulates Sam

Outgoing Macao leader Ho on Friday extended warm congratulations to Sam Hou-fai on his official appointment by the central government.

Ho and the SAR government believes that upon taking office, Sam will unite and lead the new government and all sectors of Macao society, building on a solid foundation over the past 25 years, to create new avenues for development and write a new chapter in the successful practice of "one country, two systems".

ALSO READ: Sam vows to seize opportunities to drive Macao’s prosperity

To fully assist Sam in forming the new government, the Macao SAR Gazette published Chief Executive Dispatch No. 170/2024 on Friday, requesting that offices of various secretaries, public departments and entities fully support the work of forming the sixth-term government of the Macao SAR in all aspects, including human resources, material allocation and logistical support, to ensure a smooth and orderly transition.