MACAO - Ho Iat-seng, chief executive of China's Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR), said the fifth-term Macao SAR government has steadfastly and comprehensively upheld "one country, two systems", while speaking at a plenary session of the Macao SAR's Legislative Assembly on Tuesday.

Ho made the remarks in summarizing work done in 2024, while introducing the 2025 budget proposal and reviewing the work of the fifth-term SAR government.

The fifth-term Macao SAR government has effectively safeguarded the constitutional order established by the Constitution and the Macao Basic Law, firmly upheld the central government's comprehensive jurisdiction, and fully implemented the principle of "patriots administering Macao". The government has resolutely protected national sovereignty, security and development interests while fulfilling its duties with a strong sense of mission and responsibility, Ho said.

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He noted that the government has consistently prioritized promoting appropriate economic diversification as its main policy task.

The government has established the Working Committee for Integrating into National Development, leveraging Macao's unique advantages, including "one country, two systems", its status as an international free trade port and a separate customs territory, he said.

The government has vigorously promoted the development of the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, actively participated in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and Belt and Road cooperation, and strengthened collaboration with Portuguese-speaking countries, he said, adding that integration into national development has ushered in a new phase of progress.

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During the plenary session, Ho also said that the SAR government had made new progress for appropriate economic diversification in 2024 thanks to the central government's support.

He said that in 2024, the SAR government seized the opportunity presented by the addition of mainland cities to the Individual Visit Scheme for Hong Kong and Macao. It took advantage of the implementation of various immigration policies designed to facilitate travel for individuals and businesses while launching multiple channels for tourism consumption incentives, which successfully promoted a continuous recovery in the number of visitors from the mainland and abroad.

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He added that the government has orderly implemented development plans for Macao's appropriate economic diversification in 2024 and will continue till 2028, and a statistical framework for the new "1+4" industrial structure was now largely established.

The chief executive said that in the past year, the SAR government systematically improved the legal framework for safeguarding national security, enhanced enforcement mechanisms, strengthened the social and political foundation of patriotism, and continued to advance urban security system development.

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His summary also addressed other issues, including improving people's livelihoods, deepening administrative management reform, strengthening infrastructure construction and better integrating into national development.

Ho said he had a thorough discussion with Sam Hou-fai, the incoming chief executive, and in accordance with the Basic Law of the Macao SAR, the fifth-term SAR government has prepared the fiscal budget to ensure the SAR's stability and development as well as the normal functioning of public sectors.