As 2025 arrives, President Xi Jinping delivered a New Year's message, extending best wishes to all people across the nation, including compatriots in Hong Kong and Macao. He emphasized unwavering commitment to implementing the "one country, two systems" principle, ensuring the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and Macao.
The message was filled with warmth and strength, boosting the confidence of Hong Kong citizens as they enter 2025. In the new year, we believe the SAR government will continue to unite and lead various sectors of society in reform efforts, striving for progress and actively shaping new economic dynamics and advantages, continuously creating new development opportunities.
In the past year of 2024, the central government actively responded to the impacts of domestic and international environmental changes, introducing a series of policy combinations to promote high-quality development, resulting in record highs in GDP and agricultural output. New industries, business models, and modes have emerged rapidly. The annual production of new energy vehicles has surpassed 10 million for the first time, and new achievements have been made in areas like integrated circuits, artificial intelligence, and quantum communication. The successful convening of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China heralds a further deepening of comprehensive reforms, paving a broader prospect for Chinese-style modernization.
With strong support from the central government and the collective efforts of citizens, the SAR government has demonstrated responsibility and proactivity over the past year, achieving visible results. The completion of the legislation for Article 23 of the Basic Law further solidified the foundation for safeguarding national security; the focus was placed on economic growth, development, and improving people's livelihoods; the government actively integrated into the national development landscape, contributing to the dynamic development of the Greater Bay Area (GBA), while also enhancing external exchanges and cooperation to expand international influence. Efforts to attract businesses and talent have yielded significant results, and the innovation industrial chain is accelerating its formation. Hong Kong's international competitiveness has risen, reclaiming the title of the world's freest economy, ranking third as an international financial center, and maintaining the world's best investment environment. All of this reflects the international community's strong confidence in Hong Kong and proves that the HKSAR government's policy direction is correct.
Looking ahead to 2025, the country will comprehensively complete the 14th Five-Year Plan, implementing more proactive policies, focusing on high-quality development, promoting high-level technological self-reliance, and maintaining positive momentum in economic and social development. This means that Hong Kong can play a greater role, with stronger momentum for high-quality development.
Future development will not be smooth sailing; opportunities and challenges coexist. To achieve breakthroughs, it is crucial to focus on three areas. First, comprehensively and accurately implement the "one country, two systems" principle, better leveraging institutional advantages. Second, seize historical opportunities, unite and lead society in reform, and proactively identify, respond to, and pursue changes to improve governance and outcomes. Third, firmly align with national strategies to shape new economic dynamics and advantages. This includes actively promoting the upgrading and transformation of traditional industries, nurturing new sectors, and vigorously developing new productive forces, while the development of the Northern Metropolis will become an important engine for Hong Kong's growth.
In his New Year's message, President Xi particularly emphasized that family matters, national affairs, and global issues are interconnected, and ensuring that people live happy lives is paramount. Every family hopes for a good education for their children, quality elderly care services, and more development opportunities for young people. These simple wishes are a yearning for a better life. For that, we must work together to resolve the big and small matters affecting people's lives, bringing more smiles and warmth to everyone.
Putting the people first, placing them at the highest priority, is the governing philosophy of the Communist Party of China and must be the highest guideline for the HKSAR government's policies. While accelerating economic development, the benefits of this growth must be shared more equitably among all strata of society.
"Dreams and wishes may be far, but they can be fulfilled with dedicated pursuit." The present and near future are crucial periods for comprehensively advancing national strength and rejuvenating the nation through Chinese-style modernization, and the practice of "one country, two systems" has entered a new phase. On the road ahead, Hong Kong will encounter challenges, but with central support and the unity of the SAR government and all sectors of society, we can overcome all obstacles and smooth out all difficulties.
Let us embrace the new year with passion, wishing for the prosperity of our motherland and hoping for Hong Kong to stride forward on the path of governance and rejuvenation.
(Source: Ta Kung Pao)
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