Macao SAR to further integrate into overall national development: chief executive designate

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

China's Shenzhou-21 astronauts carried out multiple in-orbit tasks in a well-organized manner, including scientific experiments, space station upkeep, equipment maintenance, and health management over the past week, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).

The crew consists of mission commander Zhang Lu and astronauts Wu Fei and Zhang Hongzhang. They have spent over three months in orbit, and are all in good condition. In the field of space medicine, the trio collected blood samples, which will be used to study the patterns of change and adaptation mechanisms in astronauts' bones, nerves, and cerebral vessels during long-duration spaceflight. Using laptops, the crew also conducted experiments related to the effects of long-term exposure to microgravity on upper and lower visual field differences and their cognitive neural mechanisms. In the realm of microgravity physical science, the three astronauts cleaned samples in non-container experimental chambers, performed electrode maintenance, cleaned lens covers, disassembled and reassembled fluid dynamics experimental modules and replaced experimental samples.

In terms of onboard environmental monitoring and equipment maintenance, they used a dew point meter to monitor the thermal environment inside the cabin and conducted air cleanliness tests. They also sorted supplies and cleaned the cabin.

For health management, the astronauts utilized devices with adsorption force to keep their leg muscles strong and completed eye, vision and optic nerve tests.

The Shenzhou-21 manned spacecraft was launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China on Oct 31, 2025. The crew onboard completed their mission's first series of extravehicular activities on Dec 9.

Shenzhou-21 crew proceeds with planned in-orbit tasks smoothly