On 12 November 2019, Commissioner Shen Beili attended the opening ceremony of "the Symposium and Photo Exhibition on Macao-related Foreign Legal Affairs in Celebration of the 20th Anniversary of Macao's Return to the Motherland" and delivered opening remarks on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China. Chief Executive Mr. Chui Sai On, Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the CPPCC Mr. Ho Hau Wah, Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central Government Mr. Luo Yonggang, Deputy Commander of the PLA Macao Garrison Mr. Liu Yunjun, President of Macao Legislative Assembly Mr. Kou Hoi In, President of the Court of Final Appeal of Macao Mr. Sam Hou Fai, and other distinguished guests including senior officials from the Government of Macao SAR attended the event.
Chief Executive Chui Sai On pointed out in his opening remarks that since Macao's return to the motherland, the Macao SAR government and the Central Government have been in close communication and coordination and all Macao-related foreign legal affairs have been conducted in strict accordance with the Chinese Constitution and the Macao Basic Law. He thanked the Central Government's support to the Macao SAR in expanding international exchanges and cooperation, and promoting Macao-related foreign legal affairs.
Commissioner Shen Beili acknowledged in her opening remarks the great success and significance of the Macao SAR in implementing "one country, two systems" since its return to the motherland. She spoke highly of the achievement of the Macao-related foreign legal affairs over the past 20 years for effectively safeguarding national sovereignty, security and interests as well as the long-term prosperity and stability of the Macao SAR. She emphasized that the recent fourth plenary session of the 19th CPC Central Committee has made important decisions and deployments for upholding and improving the institutional systems for the policy of "one country, two systems", which pointed out the direction of future work of the Macao-related foreign legal affairs. She proposed main principle suggestions in this regard, namely to fully respect and comply with the Constitution and the Basic Law, keep improving mechanisms that facilitate full implementation of the Constitution and the Basic Law, actively serve the social and economic development of the Macao SAR, and promote legal and institutional innovation which serves better the policy of "one country, two systems" .
The symposium and photo exhibition were co-hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China and the Macao SAR Government, co-organized by the Department of Treaty and Law of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Secretariat for Administration and Justice of the Macao SAR Government, and supported and sponsored by the Commissioner's office. Over 400 guests, including officials from the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, the Liaison Offices of the Central Government in the Hong Kong SAR and Macao SAR, Offices of the Commissioner of the Ministry of the Foreign Affairs of China in the Hong Kong SAR and the Macao SAR, Department of Justice of Guangdong Province, Government of the Hong Kong SAR, as well as renowned experts and scholars from mainland China, Hong Kong SAR and Macao SAR attended the event. Secretary for Administration and Justice of the Macao Chan Hoi Fan Sonia, Director General of the Department of Treaty and Law of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Jia Guide, and Secretary for Justice Hong Kong of Hong Kong Teresa Cheng Yeuk-wah, made keynote speeches respectively. Participants had an in-depth discussion on topics of "the successful practice of 'one country, two systems' at international law level", "the new development brought by practice of 'one country, two systems' of international law" and "making full use of the advantages of the SAR for the development of China", and made useful suggestions on improving the Macao-related foreign legal affairs and institutional systems for the policy of "one country, two systems".