Xi hears report from Macao SAR chief executive

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday met with Chief Executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) Sam Hou Fai, who is on a duty visit to Beijing.

During the meeting at Zhongnanhai in Beijing, Xi heard a report from Sam on Macao's current situation and the Macao SAR government's work.

Xi said that over the past year, Sam has led the new-term Macao SAR government to forge ahead with resolve, firmly safeguarding national sovereignty, security, and development interests.

Under Sam's leadership, Macao has successfully conducted the eighth Legislative Assembly election, advanced public administration reforms, and actively participated in the construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, resulting in new progress across various sectors, said Xi.

Xi said that the central authorities fully recognize the work of Sam and the Macao SAR government.

The fourth plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China highlighted the need to resolutely implement the "one country, two systems" policy, under which the people of Macao administer Macao with a high degree of autonomy, and promote the long-term prosperity and stability in Macao, Xi noted.

He said the Macao SAR government should align actively with the 15th Five-Year Plan, uphold and improve its executive-led government, solidly advance efforts to appropriately diversify Macao's economic development, and better integrate into and contribute to the country's overall development.

Xi hears report from Macao SAR chief executive

Xi hears report from Macao SAR chief executive

Xi hears report from Macao SAR chief executive

Xi hears report from Macao SAR chief executive

The international community should work together to prevent the escalation and spread of the tensions in the Middle East, which could undermine Syria's security and stability, a Chinese envoy said on Wednesday.

Fu Cong, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, made the statement at a UN Security Council meeting on political and humanitarian issues in Syria.

"Tensions in the Middle East persist, and their spillover effects continue to spread, introducing new complexities to the already fragile situation in Syria. At present, the situation is at a critical juncture between war and peace. China calls on all parties concerned to seize this window of opportunity for peace, exercise maximum restraint, demonstrate the utmost sincerity, and continue to resolve disputes through political and diplomatic channels so as to achieve a comprehensive and lasting ceasefire. The international community should work together to prevent the escalation and spread of conflict in the Middle East, which could undermine Syria's security and stability," he said.

Fu said China calls on the Syrian transitional government to fulfill its international obligations and take all effective measures to resolutely combat all international terrorist organizations listed by the UN Security Council, including the East Turkestan Islamic Movement.

China respects Syria's sovereignty, independence, unity, and territorial integrity, and Israel should withdraw from the Syrian territory as soon as possible, Fu said.

China calls for concerted int'l efforts to shield Syria from regional conflict