President of China Xi Jinping
BEIJING – China will never seek hegemony or engage in expansionism, Xi Jinping said on Sunday at the opening session of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China.
China stands firmly against all forms of hegemonism and power politics, the Cold War mentality, interference in other countries' internal affairs, and double standards, Xi said.
Xi said China remains firm in pursuing an independent foreign policy of peace.
It has always decided its position and policy on issues based on their own merits, and it has strived to uphold the basic norms governing international relations and safeguard international fairness and justice, he added.
One country, two systems
The Chinese leader also emphasized upholding and improving the policy of One Country, Two Systems.
"The policy of One Country, Two Systems is a great innovation of socialism with Chinese characteristics. It has proven to be the best institutional arrangement for ensuring sustained prosperity and stability in Hong Kong and Macao after their return to the motherland," Xi said.
He said policy must be adhered to over the long term.
"We will 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 Macau administer Macau, both with a high degree of autonomy. We will remain committed to law-based governance in Hong Kong and Macau," Xi said.
"We will ensure that the central government exercises overall jurisdiction over the two regions. We will see that Hong Kong and Macau are administered by patriots," he added.
Xi said the government will support Hong Kong and Macau in growing their economies, improving their people's lives, and resolving deep-seated issues and problems in economic and social development, and promote long-term prosperity and stability in the two special administrative regions.
"We will support Hong Kong and Macau in better integrating themselves into China's overall development and playing a greater role in realizing national rejuvenation," he said. "We will ensure both the central government's overall jurisdiction and a high degree of autonomy in the special administrative regions.”
The central authorities will uphold executive-led government in Hong Kong and Macau and support the chief executives and governments of the two regions in exercising law-based administration, enhancing their overall governance and management capacity, and improving their judicial and legal systems, the report said.
"We will inspire more people in Hong Kong and Macau to love both the country and their own regions, be more patriotic, and forge a broader united front at home and abroad in support of the One Country, Two Systems policy," he said in his report.
"We will crack down hard on anti-China elements who attempt to create chaos in Hong Kong and Macau. We will take resolute action to prevent and stop interference in the affairs of Hong Kong and Macau by external forces," he added. (Xinhua)
