The Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) will continue to leverage its distinctive advantages to help the motherland connect with the Portuguese-speaking countries and other nations, and further integrate itself into the overall national development, said Sam Hou Fai, the newly elected sixth-term chief executive designate of the Macao SAR, on Sunday.
Sam made the remarks at a press conference after the Electoral Affairs Commission for the Chief Executive Election announced that he had won the election with 394 votes in favor out of 398 valid ballots.
When elaborating on his planned efforts to push for Macao's integration into the overall national development, Sam stressed that the Macao SAR should stick to the outlined development plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and help the motherland expand openness in accordance with the region's position of "one center, one platform and one base," namely a world center of tourism and leisure, an economic and trade cooperation platform for China and the Portuguese-speaking countries as well as a cultural exchange and cooperation base.
"We should make use of our advantages and give full play to the advantages of 'one country, two systems' principle in the SAR to participate in the construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. At the same time, under the leadership of the central government, we should implement and develop various tasks and projects of the second phase of the Guangdong-Macao in-depth cooperation zone in Hengqin, with an open mind and reform and innovation measures. In addition, we should give full play to the advantages of the Macao SAR in connecting China with the world, especially the Portuguese-speaking countries. We should adhere to the position of 'One Center, One Platform and One Base', promote the connection between the Macao SAR and the Portuguese-speaking countries, and assist the nation in trade, finance, culture, and tourism, allowing it to use Macao as a platform to strengthen economic ties and exchanges with the Portuguese-speaking countries," said Sam.
At the news conference, the newly elected chief executive designate also said Macao is an inseparable part of the country.
Noting that especially after its return to the motherland, Macao and the country are closed linked by destiny, he said that the region's significant achievements in such fields as economy and people’s livelihood have attracted global attention, fully demonstrating the strong vitality of the "one country, two systems" principle.
"When the country is strong, Macao is prosperous. Over the past 25 years since Macao's returned to the motherland, the Special Administrative Region has faithfully implemented the 'one country, two systems'. With the strong support of the central government and the robust assistance and support of the people across the country, the Macao Special Administrative Region has made great progress in terms of politics, economy, society and people’s livelihoods," Sam said.
Macao SAR to further integrate into overall national development: chief executive designate
Japanese lawmaker Keiji Furuya's consistent provocations on Taiwan-related issues have severely violated the one-China principle and the spirit of the four political documents between China and Japan, and China's countermeasures is a just act against the "new militarism" ideology, a scholar on China-Japan relations said in Beijing on Tuesday.
China on Monday announced countermeasures against Keiji Furuya, member of Japan's House of Representatives, for his collusion with Taiwan secessionist forces and other egregious moves, said Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning. The punitive countermeasures against Furuya are a means of deterrence and warning, and China will also take other necessary punitive measures in light of the situation, according to Mao.
Furuya has made a number of sneaky visits to China's Taiwan region, and at a forum there on March 16, he provocatively declared "Japan's determination to protect Taiwan" and even claimed that "changes in Taiwan cannot be allowed to happen."
In an interview with China Central Television on Tuesday, Meng Xiaoxu, a research fellow at the Institute of Japanese Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said Furuya's moves are a direct challenge to established diplomatic norms.
"The speech he made in Taiwan was actually to defend [Japanese Prime Minister Sanae] Takaichi's erroneous remarks concerning Taiwan. He also mentioned the issue of so-called 'military exchanges' between Japan and Taiwan, which apparently goes against the basic consensus on the one-China principle in China-Japan relations," said Meng.
Furuya has served as the chairman of the Japanese Diet Members' Consultative Council with Taiwan since 2018, an organization known for its strong pro-Taiwan secession leanings.
"This council was actually an organization set up in 1973 by some pro-Taiwan elements in Japan after the normalization of China-Japan diplomatic relations in 1972. Its main purpose was to maintain contact with Taiwan secessionists through alternative channels. Especially after Keiji Furuya became its chairman, the frequency and scale of the organization's visits to Taiwan have exceeded historical levels," said Meng.
Furuya is widely regarded as one of Sanae Takaichi's core aides. Last October, he was appointed chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party's Election Strategy Committee, responsible for election strategy affairs. Throughout his political career, Furuya has also repeatedly visited the Yasukuni Shrine, which honors 14 Class-A World War II criminals.
"Keiji Furuya frequently visits the Yasukuni Shrine, and when he visits the Yasukuni Shrine, he never forgets to mention the Taiwan issue. In fact, he is Takaichi's spokesperson and major promoter on the Taiwan issue. He represents Japan's far-right-wing forces, the idea of 'using Taiwan to contain China' is deeply rooted in his mind. We indeed should take resolute measures to counter it. A major reason for the current downturn in China-Japan relations is Takaichi's erroneous remarks concerning Taiwan, and Japan's current collusion with Taiwan, who not only collude but also make provocations. It is Japan that has deviated from the political foundation of China-Japan relations and continuously provoked China's national interests. The historical revisionism led by the Japanese government is getting rampant throughout the country, leading to the current prevalence of 'new militarism' ideology, which is very dangerous," said Meng.
Chinese scholar justifies countermeasures against Japanese lawmaker
Chinese scholar justifies countermeasures against Japanese lawmaker
