Xi bolsters ‘One country, Two systems’

China's President Xi Jinping shakes hands with Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam after giving a speech during the inauguration ceremony of Macau's new Chief Executive Ho Iat-seng as part of 20th anniversary handover celebrations, in Macau on December 20, 2019. - Macau on December 20 marks 20 years since the former colony was returned to China with a celebration led by President Xi Jinping touting the success of the pliant gambling hub while Hong Kong boils. (Photo by Philip FONG / AFP)

MACAO, China (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping here on Thursday called on disciplined forces of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) to resolutely prevent and crack down on actions endangering the security of China’s sovereignty and challenging the authority of the central government and the Basic Law.

When meeting with representatives of Macao’s disciplined forces, Xi praised their efforts in swiftly and thoroughly tackling security problems that existed before Macao’s return to China in 1999.

Macao is now among the safest cities in the world. Xi said this is a remarkable achievement that deserves full recognition and commendation.

Xi said the disciplined forces, shouldering responsibilities for security of the country and Macao, must strengthen the sense of national identity, uphold the bottom-line thinking and keep high alert to actions endangering the security of the national sovereignty and challenging the authority of the central government and the Basic Law.

Xi expressed the hope that the representatives will fully support the chief executive and the SAR government to guard the law-based governance and ensure the successful implementation of the “one country, two systems” principle in Macao.

Xi arrived here on Wednesday to attend celebrations marking the 20th anniversary of Macao’s return to China and the inauguration of the fifth-term government of the Macao SAR scheduled on Friday.