Promoting the long-term prosperity and stability in the Hong Kong Special Administrative region (HKSAR) and the Macao Special Administrative Region (Macao SAR) is essential for realizing national rejuvenation, Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, said on Wednesday.
Xi, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks when addressing a gathering in celebration of the 105th founding anniversary of the CPC.
"Promoting the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and Macao is essential to realizing national rejuvenation. On the new journey ahead, we must fully, faithfully, and resolutely implement the policy of 'one country, two systems', under which the people of Hong Kong administer Hong Kong and the people of Macao administer Macao, both with a high degree of autonomy. We shall see that Hong Kong and Macao are administered by patriots, ensure that both special administrative regions are more effectively governed in accordance with the law, and promote their economic and social development. We shall support Hong Kong and Macao in better integrating into and contributing to the country's overall development," said Xi.
Xi stresses long-term prosperity, stability in Hong Kong, Macao SARs
Qatar confirmed on Tuesday that U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are in Doha but will not hold direct meetings with Iranian officials.
Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari said at the weekly press briefing that the U.S. delegation would instead meet with mediators to discuss progress in implementing the recently signed memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the United States and Iran.
Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei on Tuesday denied that direct negotiations with U.S. officials are scheduled.
However, he said Iran will hold a meeting with Qatar on Wednesday to discuss the implementation of the MoU, with clauses on unfreezing Iran's frozen assets set to be a key agenda item.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Monday that reaching an understanding is a bilateral matter, and if the United States honors the peace MoU, Iran will also fulfill its obligations.
The Iranian president also stressed that Iran responds to "unreasonable boasting and unfounded threats" with rational decision-making and decisive, fearless self-defense.
On June 18, Iran and the United States signed the MoU on ending the war in the region on all fronts, including Lebanon.
On June 22, technical negotiations between Iran and the United States began in Switzerland, following high-level consultations between Iranian and U.S. delegations the previous day, mediated by Pakistan and Qatar.
Qatar says US envoys in Doha, no direct talks with Iran planned
