BEIJING/MACAO - The successful election of the eighth Legislative Assembly of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) on Sunday is another landmark achievement in fully implementing the principle of "patriots administering Macao" and promoting high-quality democracy that aligns with the actual conditions of Macao, a central government spokesperson said Monday.

The election marks the first practice after Macao amended its Legislative Assembly Election Law in 2024. The amendment refined and enhanced the eligibility criteria and vetting mechanisms for running candidates, further implementing the principle of "patriots administering Macao." Additionally, it optimized the procedures for all stages of the election to ensure that it is conducted in a fair, impartial, open and honest manner.

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Sunday's election witnessed broad social participation, with high voter enthusiasm and an unprecedentedly large number of people casting their ballots, noted the spokesperson of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council.

The Macao society has widely recognized the overall caliber of the newly elected legislators. Coming from diverse backgrounds, they form a well-structured team, and their overall quality represents the highest level in history, said the spokesperson.

The spokesperson expressed hope and belief that the legislators will stay true to their original aspirations of loving the country and loving Macao, safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests, uphold the constitutional order of the Macao SAR and the executive-led system, and fully support the chief executive and the SAR government in governing the region in accordance with the law.

The new legislators are expected to achieve even greater successes in promoting the appropriate diversification of Macao's economy, accelerating the building of the Guangdong-Macao In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, maintaining social harmony and stability, improving people's livelihoods, and facilitating Macao's better integration into overall national development.

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They are also expected to contribute to the building of a strong country and the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, making their due contributions to ensuring the steady and sustained practice of "one country, two systems" with Macao characteristics.

The 26 elected members are all firm patriots, committed to serving society and capable of taking on responsibilities, the spokesperson said, adding that the composition of the legislature has been optimized, achieving a transition between the old and the new.