President Xi Jinping has urged the Macao Special Administrative Region to fully leverage the institutional advantages of the practice of "one country, two systems", work hard and be bold in making innovations to create a brighter future for the cherished pearl of the motherland.

Xi made the remarks on Wednesday afternoon as he arrived in the SAR amid eager anticipation of people from all walks of life ahead of the 25th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland, which falls on Friday.

Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, and his wife, Peng Liyuan, were warmly welcomed by hundreds of young people and representatives of the public, who flanked the red carpet waving the national and regional flags as well as colorful bouquets.

"Every visit to this beautiful place has been very delightful for me," Xi said in a brief speech at the airport.

This is the seventh time in 25 years that Xi has set foot in Macao, which has a land area of 33.3 square kilometers and is located close to Zhuhai in Guangdong province.

In 2019, President Xi attended a gathering celebrating the 20th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland and the inauguration ceremony of the fifth-term government of the Macao SAR. At that time, he called on all sections of society to build on what Macao has accomplished and take all undertakings in the SAR to the next level.

"This time, I'm here to celebrate with fellow compatriots the 25th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland and see Macao's new developments and new changes in these years," he said.

On behalf of the central government and Chinese people of all ethnic groups, Xi extended sincere greetings and best wishes to Macao's residents, and said that Macao's development and the wellbeing of its residents is always on his mind.

Over the past 25 years, the practice of "one country, two systems "with Macao characteristics has achieved success widely recognized by the world, showcasing great vitality and unique charm, Xi said.

It is the glory of Macao's residents and the pride of all Chinese people that the motherland is developing rapidly in an unstoppable way with each passing day and Macao is making steady progress with a promising future, he said.

Xi added that he will spend time visiting different places in Macao during his three-day stay and hold extensive and in-depth exchanges with friends in Macao to discuss the region's development.

Wong Ho-ian, a student of Escola Choi Nong Chi Tai, who stood near the podium when Xi was delivering his speech, held a bright yellow "pearl" in her hands — a prop she used during the dragon and lion dance performances held to welcome the president and his wife.

"Although I'm only a high school student, I have learned a lot about how the motherland has supported Macao's development. I was very happy to hear him say that Macao is like'a pearl on the palm of the motherland'," Wong said, adding that the way Xi described the city struck a chord with Macao's residents.

Wong Kit-cheng, a lawmaker in Macao, said that Xi's visit represents the central government's best wishes for the SAR.

Wong, who also serves as the vice-president of the Women's General Association of Macao, said the president's arrival will set a clear path for Macao's development in the new era and the work of the new SAR government. "It also reflects the central government's high attention to Macao's sustained prosperity and stability," she said, adding that the motherland has always been a strong supporter of Macao.

Duarte Alves, president of the General Assembly of the Macanese Youth Association, said it is a great honor to have Xi visit Macao for a gathering to mark such an important date. "Macao today is a result of the vision of the country's leaders for decades and we, as people in Macao, are very proud," he said.

With Christmas and year-end sales approaching in many Western countries, Chinese manufacturers are ramping up shipments to these markets via both air cargo and maritime container services, while experiencing a surge in sales on cross-border e-commerce platforms.

随着许多西方国家圣诞节和年终促销季的临近，中国制造商正通过航空货运和海运集装箱服务，加大对这些市场的发货力度。同时，跨境电商平台的销售额也迎来激增。

December and January are peak shopping seasons in Europe and the United States, and China's cross-border e-commerce exports to these markets—especially Christmas-themed products and small electronic products—have shown strong growth in recent weeks.
12月和1月是欧美地区的购物高峰期。最近几周，中国对这些市场的跨境电商出口，尤其是圣诞主题产品和小型电子产品的出口，呈现出强劲增长态势。

Christmas-themed products encompass a wide range of festive items that are popular during the holiday season. These include Christmas decorations like artificial trees, ornaments and lights, as well as figurines of Santa, reindeer and snowmen. They also cover gifts, Christmas cards, specialty food items and holiday-themed apparel such as sweaters and Santa hats.

圣诞主题产品包括一系列节日期间广受欢迎的节庆用品，包括人造圣诞树、装饰品、灯具等圣诞装饰，以及圣诞老人、驯鹿和雪人等雕像。此外，还有礼物、圣诞贺卡、特色食品和节日主题服饰，如毛衣和圣诞帽等。

To meet the soaring demand from Chinese exporters shipping Christmas-themed goods and other high-value items ordered through cross-border e-commerce platforms to global markets, Nanjing Lukou International Airport, located in Nanjing, capital of East China's Jiangsu province, boosted its freighter routes by adding 48 extra flights between November and December.

为满足中国出口商通过跨境电商平台向全球市场运输圣诞主题商品和其他高价值商品的激增需求，南京禄口国际机场（位于中国东部江苏省省会南京）在11月至12月间增加了48个航班，以扩大其货运航线。

Customs authorities at the airport supervised foreign trade cargo volume of 67,200 metric tons during the January-November period, a year-on-year increase of 29.3 percent. Among this, exports of cross-border e-commerce goods amounted to 18,000 tons, jumping 51.8 percent on a yearly basis, statistics from Nanjing Customs show.

据南京海关统计，今年1月至11月，京禄口机场海关监管进出口货运量6.72万吨，同比增长29.3%。其中，出口跨境电商商品1.8万吨，同比增长51.80%。

Jiangsu Changxin Weaving Co Ltd, a Changzhou, Jiangsu province-based textile manufacturer, has been shipping about 10 containers abroad daily via containerships over the past two weeks.

江苏常信纺织有限公司（位于江苏省常州市）在过去两周里每天通过集装箱船向国外运送约10个集装箱的货物。

In addition to exporting Christmas-themed products, such as pillows, socks, blankets and carpets, the Chinese company has introduced Christmas tree sets with innovative designs this year to enhance the competitiveness of its products in overseas markets.

除了出口圣诞主题的枕头、袜子、毯子和地毯等产品外，这家中国公司今年还推出了充满创意设计的圣诞树套装，以提升其产品在海外市场的竞争力。

"In the past, our exported Christmas products were relatively simple and had low added value. However, this year, we established a dedicated design team for Christmas items. From traditional Santa Claus and reindeer designs to modern cartoon styles, we now offer a diverse range of products that are popular in many countries," said Chen Lin, head of the export unit at the company.

“过去，我们出口的圣诞产品相对简单且附加值低。但今年，我们为圣诞商品成立了一个专门的设计团队。从传统的圣诞老人和驯鹿设计到现代的卡通风格，我们现在提供多种产品，并在多个国家广受欢迎，”该公司出口部门负责人陈林表示。

Liaoning Creative Arts and Crafts Co Ltd, a handicrafts manufacturer in Shenyang, capital of Northeast China's Liaoning province, secured over 4 million yuan ($549,018) worth of export orders to the US this year, mainly for various handicrafts made from bamboo, wood and grass weaving.

手工艺品制造商辽宁创意工艺品有限公司（位于中国东北部辽宁省省会沈阳）今年获得了超过400万元人民币（549,018美元）的美国出口订单，主要涉及竹、木和草编的各种手工艺品。

Demand for Christmas and other holiday decorations has been strong in the second half of this year, said Xie Pengfei, the company's general manager.

公司总经理谢鹏飞表示，今年下半年，圣诞和其他节日装饰的需求一直很强劲。

Shenyang Customs has supervised the export of Christmas-themed products, primarily made of bamboo, wood, rattan and grass weaving within its Customs territory in the first 11 months of this year, amounting to 350 million yuan, with exports covering 50 countries, including the US, Mexico, the United Kingdom and Australia.

据沈阳海关统计，今年前11个月，该海关监管出口的圣诞主题产品主要以竹、木、藤和草编材料制成，货值达3.5亿元人民币，出口至包括美国、墨西哥、英国和澳大利亚在内的50个国家。

"Instead of sea and air transportation, some Christmas goods bound for Europe can be exported via China-Europe freight train services," Xie said.

“除了海运和空运，一些运往欧洲的圣诞商品还可以通过中欧班列服务出口，”谢鹏飞表示。

container

n.集装箱;货箱

China announced on Tuesday a significant relaxation of its visa-free transit policy, extending the period of stay for foreign travelers and expanding the list of accessible ports and provincial-level regions, in order to further promote openness and people-to-people exchanges.

12月17日，中国宣布全面放宽优化过境免签政策，延长外国游客的停留时间，并扩大省（区、市）入出境口岸名单，以进一步促进对外开放和人员往来。

Eligible travelers are permitted to stay in the country for up to 240 hours, or 10 days, the National Immigration Administration said.

国家移民管理局表示，符合条件的旅客最长可在中国停留240小时（10天）。

The period of stay was previously restricted to 72 or 144 hours.

先前的停留时间仅限于72或144小时。

The policy revision, effective immediately, also includes a substantial expansion of designated ports and travel regions, enhancing flexibility for international visitors.

立即生效的政策修订还包括大幅扩大的指定口岸和停留活动区域，进一步为国际旅客提高了灵活性。

Eligible citizens from 54 countries, including Russia, Brazil, the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada, can enter China visa-free when transiting to a third country or region. These travelers can now enter through any of the 60 ports across 24 provincial-level regions, up from 39 ports in 19 provincial-level regions, the NIA said.

国家移民管理局规定，符合条件的俄罗斯、巴西、英国、美国、加拿大等54国人员，从中国过境前往第三国（地区）时，可免签来华。这些旅客现在可从24个省（区、市）60个对外开放口岸中任一口岸入境，而此前只有19个省（区、市）的39个口岸。

The 21 newly included ports are located in the provinces of Shanxi, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, Fujian, Jiangxi, Shandong, Hunan, Hainan, Sichuan and Guizhou, and in the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region. The five newly included provinces for visa-free transit stays are Shanxi, Anhui, Jiangxi, Hainan and Guizhou.

新增的21个口岸位于山西、江苏、浙江、安徽、福建、江西、山东、湖南、海南、四川、贵州以及广西壮族自治区等地。新纳入过境免签政策的五个省份是山西、安徽、江西、海南和贵州。

China, which first implemented its visa-free transit policy in January 2013, has been improving it over the years. Mao Xu, deputy head of the NIA, said the 72- and 144-hour visa-free transit policy has been warmly welcomed both at home and abroad.

中国于2013年1月首次实施过境免签政策，并多年来一直不断完善该政策。国家移民管理局副局长毛旭表示，72/144小时过境免签政策在境内外广受欢迎，引发热烈反响。

From January to November, the number of visa-free transit travelers surged by more than 130 percent year-on-year, Mao noted. When the maximum duration of visa-free transit stay was restricted to 144 hours, more than 80 percent of travelers did not leave China until the last few hours, he said.

毛旭介绍，从1月到11月，适用过境免签政策来华外国人数量同比上升130%以上。原来过境免签政策停留时间最长为144小时，80%以上人员临近期限届满方离开。

"Many foreign friends hope they could spend more time traveling within China," Mao said, adding that the updated policy will allow them to explore more scenic places in the country as well as help them to get better acquainted with Chinese culture.

“有不少外国朋友希望有更充足的时间在中国境内旅游”，毛旭表示，新政策将方便过境外国人更好地欣赏中华美景、体验中华文化。

Anastasiia Shimko, from Russia, said the extension of visa-free transit stay will make China a more attractive destination for foreign travelers.

来自俄罗斯的Anastasiia Shimko说，延长过境免签将使中国成为对外国游客更具吸引力的目的地。

The 37-year-old, who is pursuing a doctoral degree at Beijing Language and Culture University, said the policy revision may also encourage her friends and family members in Russia to plan a stopover to China.

37岁的Shimko正在北京语言大学攻读博士学位，她认为，政策的调整也可能鼓励她在俄罗斯的朋友和家人计划来中国进行中转。

"When they plan a trip to a third country, they will perhaps choose to transfer in large Chinese cities, spend more time in China and understand the country better," she added.

她补充说：“当他们计划去第三国旅行时，也许会选择在中国的大城市转机，在中国待更长的时间，更好地了解中国。”

In recent years, China has taken a series of steps to streamline its inbound travel. Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said on Tuesday afternoon that China has reached full mutual visa exemption agreements with 26 countries, and adopted a unilateral visa-free policy for travelers from 38 countries.

近年来，中国采取了一系列措施简化入境旅游手续。12月17日下午，外交部发言人林剑表示，中国已经同26个国家达成了全面免签，并对38个国家实行单方面免签政策。

Liu Jia, deputy head of NIA's Department of Foreigner Management, said a notable feature of the new policy adjustment is the introduction of cross-regional travel, allowing foreign visitors to move freely across the designated areas of 24 specified provincial-level regions.

国家移民管理局外国人管理司副司长柳佳介绍，新政策调整的最大特点是允许跨区域通行，即过境免签的外国人可以在24个省(区、市)停留活动区域内跨省域旅行。

The updated policy allows foreign travelers to better plan their itineraries and arrange flexible travel routes, enabling multicity tourism and business activities across various regions, he said.

柳佳表示，新政策便于外国人合理规划行程，灵活安排旅行路线，跨省多地进行旅游、商务等活动。

Liu noted that the visa-free transit policy now covers not only eastern regions of China, which boast stronger economic prowess and a higher level of opening-up, but also destinations in central and western regions that are popular and capable of offering good services.

柳佳指出，政策优化后，不仅覆盖经济实力较强、对外开放水平较高的东部省份，还将扩大到入境游需求旺盛、管理服务基础较好的中西部地区。

It will better serve China's major strategies to boost development of the central and western regions, "creating a comprehensive opening-up pattern of coordinated development between the inland and coastal regions and between the east and the west", he added.

柳佳补充，这将更好服务中部地区崛起、西部大开发等区域重大发展战略，“助力形成陆海内外联动、东西双向互济的全面开放格局”。

streamline

v. 简化使效率更高

itinerary

n. 旅程；行程

visa-free policy

免签政策

When recalling the visit made by President Xi Jinping to the Premier School Affiliated to Hou Kong Middle School in Macao, Chao Lin-chai said she didn't realize that it had already been five years.

Chao was then giving an open class in history to first graders at the school auditorium, ahead of the 20th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland.

The topic was to explore the reasons behind the strong vitality of the "one country, two systems "principle, an institutional arrangement for ensuring sustained prosperity and stability in the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions after their return to the motherland.

"I remember President Xi walked up to the students and said that history is the best subject, because by knowing our history, we can understand where we started from, what path we have taken, where we are now, where we are headed for and what the future holds," Chao said.

Xi also praised the students for being quick-witted, and expressed his confidence that the young people of Macao will mature into "a capable generation of which we are proud of" and serve as the backbone of both Macao and the country, Chao said.

Starting on Wednesday, Xi will be in Macao again to attend a gathering marking the 25th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland. He will also conduct an inspection tour during his three-day stay.

"We are all very happy about President Xi's visit, which reflects his care and support for Macao. We also look forward to more opportunities for cooperation with the mainland that this trip might bring," Chao said, adding that local residents believe that Macao will continue to develop further and their quality of life will continue to improve.

This is the seventh time in 25 years that Xi will set foot on Macao, which has a total area of 33.3 square kilometers.

On June 10, 2000, less than half a year after the establishment of the Macao Special Administrative Region, Xi, then governor of East China's Fujian province, visited Macao to hold discussions on further strengthening the economic and trade cooperation between the province and the SAR.

A year later, on Oct 23, Xi led a delegation to visit Macao and reached broad consensus with Ho Hau-wah, then chief executive of the SAR, on in-depth cooperation between Fujian and Macao.

On Jan 19, 2005, Xi, then secretary of the Communist Party of China Zhejiang provincial committee, led a delegation to visit Macao for an event on economic and trade cooperation.

Amid the global financial crisis in 2009, Xi, who was then Chinese vice-president, made a visit to Macao with the purpose of inspiring local people and helping them tide over the situation. During that trip, he announced that the central government had decided to commence the official development of Hengqin Island, Guangdong province, located less than 200 meters from Macao at its closest point.

In 2014 and 2019, Xi attended gatherings marking the anniversaries of Macao's return to the motherland as Chinese president.

Five years ago, in his speech marking the 20th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland and the inauguration of the fifth-term government of the Macao SAR, Xi said that over the past two decades, the SAR government and the region's people had worked closely to usher in Macao's best period of development in history.

Noting that the world is undergoing changes unseen in a century and Macao is facing new internal and external dynamics, Xi urged the SAR government and all sections of society to "build on what Macao has accomplished and take all undertakings in the SAR to the next level".

New accomplishment

In the past five years, the SAR government has received strong support from the central government to overcome challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, and launched a series of innovative measures to promote economic development, social stability and cultural inheritance, achieving remarkable results.

Last year, as the robust resurgence in tourism propelled Macao's economy to grow 80.5 percent year-on-year, the SAR was ranked fifth-wealthiest among regions globally, according to a report published by Global Finance magazine in May.

In the first three quarters of this year, Macao's GDP increased 11.5 percent year-on-year to reach 301 billion patacas ($38 billion), data from the Statistics and Census Service showed.

Macao was primarily relying on its casino industry to drive economic growth. However, the SAR government is now making dedicated and determined efforts to diversify Macao's industrial structure to reduce its dependence on the gaming sector.

Xu Chang, a professor with the "One Country Two Systems "Research Centre at Macao Polytechnic University, said that Macao has revised its gaming law and regulations to strengthen supervision of casino operations and tackle gambling-related crimes in recent years.

"Such efforts are of great significance for guiding this traditional lifeline industry toward legal, orderly and healthy development," he said.

Last year, the SAR government released a development plan for Macao's economic diversification from 2024 through 2028. It is the first such plan drafted for Macao.

The document outlines the"1+4"appropriate diversification development strategy that aims to enhance Macao's function as "One Centre "for integrated tourism and leisure, while facilitating the development of "four emerging industries", namely the traditional Chinese medicine and the health sector, modern financial services, high-tech industries, and cultural, sports and convention services.

According to Xu, a series of public service facilities to improve people's well-being, such as government housing units for the elderly and low-income residents, in addition to convenient traveling options between Macao and Zhuhai, Guangdong, via new ports and a light railway link, have substantially enhanced the quality of life for Macao residents.

"All these will help carry forward the fine tradition of loving the motherland and loving Macao, and speed up the SAR's integration into the modernization process of the motherland, thereby ensuring the steady implementation of the 'one country, two systems' principle," Xu said.

When meeting with Sam Hou-fai, Macao's incoming chief executive, in Beijing last month, President Xi said the central authorities will stay committed to fully and faithfully implementing the "one country, two systems" principle and ensure there is no deviation or distortion in its implementation.

The principle has proved to be the best answer to the question of Macao left by history and the best institutional guarantee for the long-term prosperity and stability of Macao after its return to the motherland.

Wang Yu, a professor with the Faculty of Law at the University of Macau, said it is necessary to have a clear understanding of the principle as an unprecedented pioneering cause.

"That's why President Xi has once and again emphasized that it must be applied without deviation or distortion to ensure Macao's steady and long-term progress," Wang said.

Xu, from Macao Polytechnic University, said the fact that fellow compatriots in Macao can truly feel the care and concern of the motherland serves as the fundamental foundation for implementing the "one country, two systems "principle without deviation or distortion.

Guarantee of progress

In recent years, the central government has launched a series of policies and measures that benefit Macao and its people, continuously injecting new impetus into the SAR's long-term prosperity and stability and fully demonstrating the central government's care and love for Macao.

In 2021, the central authorities decided to build the Guangdong-Macao in-depth cooperation zone in Hengqin, making the island an important new growth point for Macao's economy.

As the nation moves to advance Chinese modernization, it was outlined in the resolution adopted at the third plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee in July that efforts need to be made to improve relevant mechanisms to see Hong Kong and Macao playing greater roles in China's opening-up to the outside world.

During their meeting in Beijing, Xi told Sam that this expression has pointed out the direction for Macao to integrate into Chinese modernization and achieve better development, creating a new historical opportunity for the SAR's development.

Xu, from the polytechnic university, said that Macao should leverage its advantages in terms of location to advance China's reform and opening-up.

The region should also use its traditional relations with Portuguese-speaking countries, convenient customs clearance in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the unique policy advantages of "one country, two systems" to make pioneering contributions to exploring the successful path toward Chinese modernization, he added.

As three new subway lines were put into operation on Sunday, Beijing's urban rail transit network has expanded to a total length of 879 kilometers, making it the longest in China, authorities said.

12月15日，北京3条地铁新线同步开通。相关部门表示北京城市轨道交通网络总里程已达879公里，长度居全国首位。

"The newly opened subway lines are crucial for easing traffic congestion in the city's central area and supporting the development of places along their routes," said Wu Yulan, deputy director of the rail transit operation management bureau at the Beijing Municipal Commission of Transport.

北京市交通委轨道交通运营管理处副处长吴玉兰表示：“新开通的地铁线对于缓解北京中心城区交通压力，服务沿线重点功能区建设具有重要意义。”

The three new lines are the first phase of Line 3, connecting Dongsishitiao to Dongba North, Line 12, connecting Sijiqingqiao to Dongba North and the remaining section of the southern extension of the Changping Line. They contribute approximately 43 km to Beijing's urban rail transit network, according to the commission.

据北京市交通委介绍，三条新线路分别为3号线一期（东四十条—东坝北）、12号线（四季青桥—东坝北）以及昌平线南延一期剩余段（西土城—蓟门桥站及朱房北站），北京城市轨道交通运营里程新增约43公里。

Since the opening of Beijing's first subway line - Line 1, on Oct 1, 1969, the city has developed the longest urban rail transit network in the country, operating 29 subway lines and 522 stations. The subway system plays a foundational, supportive and

leading role in the capital's development, Wu said.

从1969年10月1日，作为北京第一条城市轨道交通的北京地铁1号线正式开通，到如今北京成为全国城市轨道交通运营里程最长城市，运营地铁线路29条、车站522座。吴玉兰表示，轨道交通在首都发展建设中发挥着基础性、支撑性、引领性作用。

"The three new lines not only add new east-west routes in the city center but also connects several north-south lines, providing new public transportation options for residents living in areas such as Madian, Anzhen and Dongba," she added.

“此次新开通3条地铁线，不仅在北京中心城区新增东西向轨道交通廊道，而且与多条南北向轨道交通线路连接，为马甸、安贞、东坝等居住区增添公共交通出行新选择。”她补充道。

Notably, the first phase of Line 3, which includes (passes) Chaoyang Railway Station, will enhance the rapid dispersal capacity of passenger flow at the railway station. Passengers at Beijing Chaoyang Station will now have diverse transportation options, including subways, buses, taxis and private cars.

值得注意的是，北京地铁3号线一期（东四十条—东坝北）途经朝阳火车站，其开通将提升国铁北京朝阳站客流在北京市内快速集散能力。目前朝阳站的旅客可选择地铁、出租车、网约车、公交车、私家车等多样化方式出行。

With the integration of Beijing Chaoyang Station into the urban rail transit network, all seven major railway stations and two airports in the capital are now included in the subway system.

随着国铁北京朝阳站接入北京城市轨道交通运营网络，北京七大火车站、两大机场实现“地铁全覆盖”。

Li Tian, the station manager of Beijing Chaoyang Station, said that to ensure smooth and convenient transfers between rail and subway, they have coordinated with local government and rail transit authorities, enabling full preparation for the passenger flow.

北京朝阳站站长李添表示，为确保旅客在铁路与地铁间接驳顺畅，北京朝阳站提前与地方政府、轨道交通部门进行了协调，为应对客流做好了充分准备。

Beijing's urban rail transit network operates like an underground megacity. It has recorded passenger flows of over 11 million people on weekdays, equivalent to half of Beijing's population moving underground, official reports said.

北京的城市轨道交通线网就像一座地下运行的超大城市。官方报告显示，北京城市轨道交通路网工作日已承担超1100万人次的客流，相当于北京一半的人口在地下流动。

congestion

n.拥挤，阻塞

President Xi Jinping called on Monday for constant efforts to achieve new accomplishments that will stand the test of history and time and fulfill the expectations of the people, amid China's drive to build a strong country and advance national rejuvenation.

Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks while addressing a meeting held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing to mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of late top legislator Qiao Shi.

Xi praised Qiao's outstanding contributions to the Party and the country, and called for learning from his revolutionary spirit and noble character.

Qiao was a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee. He served as head of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection from 1987 to 1992, promoting the building of a clean Party and improving anti-corruption laws and rules.

Widely known as a champion of rule of law, Qiao served as chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature, from 1993 to 1998. He supervised revisions to the Constitution, which saw the theory of building socialism with Chinese characteristics written into the Constitution as a guiding principle. He also oversaw legislative work on a series of economic laws so that the legal framework of the socialist market economy could take shape.

In his speech on Monday, Xi said that generations of outstanding communists have emerged in the great process of China's revolution, construction and reform, and he stressed that Qiao was one of them.

Xi said that commemorating Qiao is for the purpose of learning from him in maintaining a noble character of upholding firm beliefs and ideals, promoting better Party conduct with strict Party discipline, serving the people with the original aspiration in mind, and carrying out bold reforms with great political courage.

He also emphasized the need to learn from Qiao's unwavering pursuit of respecting and enforcing the rule of law and his practical and realistic work style.

While highlighting the need to firm up the communist ideal, Xi urged upholding the overall leadership of the Party as well as the centralized and unified leadership of the CPC Central Committee.

It is important to steadfastly exercise full and rigorous governance over the Party, vigorously improve conduct and combat corruption in strengthening the Party, in order to maintain the Party's advanced nature and integrity, he said.

Xi also underscored the necessity to always adhere to the fundamental purpose of wholeheartedly serving the people, uphold people-centered development, effectively safeguard the fundamental interests of the people and ensure that the achievements of modernization benefit all the people more fairly.

He called for further deepening comprehensive reform and advancing high-level opening-up, and emphasized the need to build a modern socialist country on the track of rule of law.

It is crucial to resolutely oppose formalism and bureaucratism, focus on promoting development and take solid steps to advance Chinese modernization, Xi added.

Taking flexible jobs has become one of the most sought-after career choices for young Chinese people who wish to be in the driver's seat of their careers and value work-life balance. Experts have called for more flexible social insurance programs and stricter supervision of platforms' algorithms to better secure the rights of the flexibly employed.

对于那些希望掌控自己职业生涯、重视平衡工作与生活的中国年轻人来说，灵活就业已成为他们最热衷的职业选择之一。专家也呼吁推出更灵活的社保项目、加强对平台算法的监管，以更好地保障灵活就业者的权益。

Zhaopin, an online recruitment portal, recently released a report stating that youths born after 2000 are more open-minded towards flexible jobs than older individuals.

在线招聘平台智联招聘近日发布的一份报告显示，与年龄较大的群体相比，2000后出生的年轻人对灵活就业持更加开放的态度。

Among the surveyed 20-somethings, over half—51.3 percent—said that they have already taken a flexible job or have a strong willingness to work flexibly because of the reduced work pressure and looser restrictions associated with flexible jobs. However, the platform didn't specify the exact number of people surveyed.

在接受调查的20多岁年轻人中，超过一半（51.3%）表示已经或有强烈意愿准备从事灵活的主要原因是“工作限制少，压力小”。然而，该平台并未说明具体的受访人数。

Zhaopin mentioned that it's not easy to take or keep a flexible job due to the fast growth and development of information technologies and digital economies, which require the employed to possess certain key working skills, time management abilities, clear personal career plans and strong intrinsic motivation to secure more sustainable development for themselves. Employers have also shown increasing interest in hiring flexible workers to save human resources costs and gain new inspiration from the flexibly employed, according to Zhaopin's report. The report indicated that nearly 38 percent of surveyed companies expanded their recruitment of flexible workers this year, with profitable companies taking more positive approaches to hiring flexible workers.

智联招聘提到，由于信息技术和数字经济的蓬勃发展，从事或维持灵活就业并不容易，这要求从业者“掌握核心技能”、“具备时间管理能力”、“擅长个人规划”以及“具有较强自驱力”以实现个人可持续发展。报告还显示，企业对聘用灵活就业人员的兴趣也在增加，认为这能节省人力资源成本、提供新灵感。报告指出，今年近38%的被调查公司扩大了对灵活就业人员的招聘，而盈利公司表现更为积极。

"I quit my full-time job in September last year and now work as a flexible interior designer. I get design projects from some small-sized architectural firms or platforms like Xiaohongshu, a Chinese life-sharing platform," said Zheng Yuan, a 28-year-old from Beijing.

“我去年9月辞去了全职工作，现在是一名灵活就业的室内设计师。我的设计项目是从一些小型建筑公司或小红书（一个中国生活分享平台）等平台获取的，”来自北京的28岁郑元（音译）说。

He said he had been stressed at his previous company and was overtasked even on weekends. "I was depressed sitting at the office from 9 am to 9 pm and quit the job due to some health problems. The projects I now take are mostly based on my interests, and I get much more respect from my employers. Payment varies from case to case, but I'm OK with that."

他表示，之前在公司工作压力很大，甚至在周末也超负荷工作。“从早上9点一直坐到晚上9点，我都抑郁了，因为健康问题也辞职了。我现在接的项目大多出于个人兴趣，也得到了雇主的更多尊重。报酬因项目而异，但我感觉还行。”

Feng Shuaizhang, dean of the Institute for Economic and Social Research of Jinan University in the southern province of Guangdong, said that flexible jobs are usually classified into two types: one is location-based, with registered flexible workers taking online orders but serving in a specific real-world location, such as food delivery workers; the other is cloud-based, with all services fulfilled online by workers usually having higher educational backgrounds and information technology-related skills.

广东暨南大学经济与社会研究院院长冯帅章表示，灵活就业通常分为两类：一种是基于位置的灵活就业，从业者通过互联网平台接单，但需要到特定的地理位置提供服务，例如外卖配送员等；一种是基于云端的灵活就业，所有服务均可线上完成，其从业者通常具有较高学历背景和信息技术技能。

"Both of these groups need help with working rights protection from the government," he said, suggesting that the government could develop more flexible social insurance programs to allow the flexibly employed to receive fairer returns and insurance coverage based on their contributions.

“这两类群体都需要政府在劳动权益保护方面给予帮助，”他说，并建议政府可以制定更灵活的社保项目，让灵活就业者能够根据自己的付出获得更公平的收入和保险覆盖。

"It's also important to tighten supervision over platforms' algorithms or involve flexible workers in algorithm design to ensure they receive fair and reasonable online orders and payment," he said.

“加强对平台算法的监管，或让灵活就业者参与算法设计，以确保他们获得公平合理的线上订单和报酬，这一点也很重要。”他说。

Li Qiang, vice-president of Zhaopin, added that flexible working or hiring will be a trendy labor relation in the future, attracting more white-collar workers with higher educational backgrounds.

智联招聘执行副总裁李强补充道，灵活就业或灵活用工将会成为未来的一种流行劳动关系，吸引更多高学历的白领加入。

Feng, the dean, added that in addition to policy support, it's also necessary for the public to change its stereotypical view of flexible jobs, as many consider such work to be unstable or indecent.

冯帅章院长还表示，许多人认为灵活就业不稳定或不体面，因此除了政策支持外，公众也需要改变对灵活就业的刻板印象。

sought-after

adj.热门的，广受欢迎的

Ahead of the 25th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland, which falls on Friday, national and regional flags fluttered high along a Macao street that houses the China-Portuguese-speaking Countries Commercial and Trade Service Platform Complex, a pivotal hub for activities boosting collaboration between the two sides.

12月20日，澳门将迎来回归祖国25周年。在澳门的一处街道上，国旗和特区区旗迎风飘扬，中国与葡语国家商贸合作服务平台综合体大楼在此坐落，它也是促进双方合作的重要活动枢纽。

Initiated as a way to cement Macao's role as a commercial and trade service platform for China and Portuguese-speaking countries, the complex's launch was announced in Macao in 2016 on the sidelines of the 5th Ministerial Conference of the Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries, also known as Forum Macao.

为巩固澳门作为中国与葡语国家商贸合作服务平台的地位，该综合体大楼于2016年中国—葡语国家经贸合作论坛（澳门）（以下简称“中葡论坛”）第五届部长级会议上提出建造。

The first phase of the complex was completed in 2019, which marked the 20th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland.

综合体大楼的一期工程于2019年竣工，正值澳门回归祖国20周年。

The complex was one part of President Xi Jinping's inspection tour to Macao that year to celebrate the anniversary.

该综合体是习近平总书记当年视察澳门以庆祝澳门回归周年的活动之一。

While visiting, Xi recognized the complex as giving a fresh boost to the development of the service platform.

考察期间，习近平总书记肯定了该综合体为服务平台的发展注入了新的活力。

The subsequent five-year evolution saw major scale-ups of the complex as the regular meeting venue for Forum Macao and as a multifunctional facility that houses the Commerce and Investment Promotion Institute and the Supporting Office to the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao.

在随后的五年发展过程中，该综合体大楼的规模不断扩大，不仅成为中葡论坛的固定会议场地，还是容纳澳门特别行政区招商投资促进局和中葡论坛常设秘书处辅助办公室的多功能设施。

"It provides excellent venues for institutes based in the city dedicated to propelling commercial and trade cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, having greatly facilitated their daily operations and event hosting," said Ji Xianzheng, secretary-general of the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao.

中葡论坛常设秘书处秘书长季先峥表示：“这为致力于推动中国与葡语国家商贸合作的驻澳机构提供了绝佳的场所，极大地方便了它们的日常运作和活动举办。”

Data released by the General Administration of Customs shows that China's trade in merchandise with Portuguese-speaking countries in the first 10 months of 2024 reached $191.2 billion, a 6 percent year-on-year increase.

海关总署发布数据显示，2024年前10个月，中国与葡语国家的商品贸易额达1912亿美元，同比增长6%。

The latest slate of high-profile events hosted in the complex included the sixth edition of the Ministerial Conference of Forum Macao in April.

最近在该综合体大楼举办的一系列高规格活动包括4月举行的中葡论坛第六届部长级会议。

Ji hailed the forum as among the most pronounced accomplishments in advancing cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, as it enables high-level intergovernmental exchanges between China and these countries.

季先峥称赞中葡论坛是推动中国与葡语国家合作的最显著成就之一，因为它促成了中国与这些国家之间的高级别政府间交流。

Ji highlighted the Strategic Plan for Economic and Trade Cooperation (2024-27) hammered out at the ministerial conference in April as a blueprint for future actions to drive more multilateral partnerships.

季先峥强调，4月份部长级会议制定的《经贸合作行动纲领（2024—2027）》是未来行动的蓝图，旨在推动更多的多边合作关系。

The plan clarified key fronts for collaboration, encompassing trade and investment, industry, human resources, medical care and healthcare, as well as education and cultural affairs.

该纲领明确了合作的主要领域，包括贸易投资、工业、人力资源、医疗保健、教育和文化事务等。

Asked about the secretariat's future priorities, Ji emphasized its resolve to enhance financial services, promote technological exchanges and build a joint mechanism to give full play to Macao's role as a cooperation platform for China and Portuguese-speaking countries.

在被问及中葡论坛常设秘书处未来的工作重点时，季先峥强调，秘书处将加强金融服务，促进科技交流，建立联合机制，充分发挥澳门作为中国与葡语国家之间的合作平台作用。

"The platform role that Macao aims to play is multidimensional in nature, requiring support from many relevant parties, not just the central and regional governments, industry associations and even private think tanks," said Ji, who attended the 6th Meeting of the Forum Macao China Follow-up Action Committee, which was held on Dec 3 in Beijing.

“澳门要发挥的平台作用是多维度的，需要很多相关方面的支持，不仅仅是中央和地方政府、行业协会，甚至民间智库。”出席12月3日在北京召开的中葡论坛中方后续行动委员会第六次会议的季先峥说。

"Our next step will be briefing Portuguese-speaking countries on the work we have been carrying out, gathering pace for more solid implementation of the strategic plan that was charted," he said.

季先峥表示：“下一步，我们将向葡语国家介绍我们一直在开展的工作，为更扎实地落实所制定的战略计划积蓄力量。”

The complex, whose Pavilion of China-Portuguese-speaking Countries Commercial and Trade Service Platform was unveiled in 2022, and which features several meeting and activity facilities, is also conducive to deepening trade cooperation and people-to-people exchanges. 

该综合体的中国与葡语国家商贸合作服务平台展示馆于2022年揭幕，设有多个会议场地和活动设施，有助于深化贸易合作和人文交流。

The pavilion, covering an estimated 1,800 square meters, is one of the Commerce and Investment Promotion Institute's major recent endeavors to create more commercial and business ties between China and Portuguese-speaking countries.

该展示馆占地约1800平方米，是澳门招商投资促进局近期为加强中国与葡语国家之间的商贸联系而做出的主要努力之一。

Kathy Lam, a Permanent Secretariat staff member who works as a tour guide in the pavilion, said she always likes to introduce visitors at the onset to the pavilion's logo, which she described as epitomizing the pavilion's core vision.

在展示馆担任导游的常设秘书处工作人员Kathy Lam说，她总是喜欢在一开始就向参观者介绍展馆的标志，她说这是展馆核心理念的缩影。

According to Lam, the logo is inspired by the first two strokes of the Chinese character he, meaning "joint", which is also the first character of the Chinese term for "collaboration" and resembles two clasped hands.

据她介绍，展馆标志的灵感来自汉字“合”的前两笔，意为“联合”，也是中文“合作”一词的首字，形似两只紧握的手。

Seven areas of the pavilion present a panorama of the concerted work of China and Portuguese-speaking countries, starting with multimedia displays of relevant preferential policies, supportive programs and collaboration milestones, and topped off with an exhibition of more than 2,000 products from Portuguese-speaking countries. Each item has a QR code for accessing information about the supplier.

展馆的七个区域全景呈现了中国与葡语国家的合作成果，以多媒体形式展示中国与葡语国家的相关优惠政策、支持计划和合作里程碑，并展出了2000多件来自葡语国家的产品。每件产品都有对应的二维码，可用于获取供应商的相关信息。

Lam said the pavilion, which is open to the public, was warmly received by companies on the Chinese mainland that seek to expand operations to Portuguese-speaking countries.

Lam表示，该展馆向公众开放，受到了寻求将业务拓展至葡语国家的中国大陆公司的热烈欢迎。

Ji, the secretary-general of the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao, said the complex also hosts themed workshops for government officials from Portuguese-speaking countries as well as experts. The workshops touch upon many areas of collaboration, including traditional Chinese medicine, and more are planned in fields such as the digital economy, green development and the blue, or ocean, economy.

中葡论坛常设秘书处秘书长季先峥表示，该综合体还为葡语国家的政府官员和专家举办主题研讨会。这些研讨会涉及传统中医药等多个合作领域，并计划在数字经济、绿色发展和蓝色经济（海洋经济）等领域开展更多合作。

More people have begun to hear about the complex, which "has become one of Macao's new landmarks", Ji added.

季先峥补充，越来越多的人开始了解这座“已成为澳门新地标之一”的综合体。

complex

n. 复合体；综合设施

pivotal

adj. 中枢的, 关键的

pavilion

n. 展示馆