President Xi Jinping on Wednesday urged adherence and correct implementation of the "One Country, Two Systems" principle in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR). "New situations have arisen in the practice of the 'One Country, Two Systems' principle in Hong Kong in recent years," said Xi, when he met with HKSAR Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying, who is in Beijing to report his work in the past year to the central government.
Xi stressed that the central authority's adherence to the principle will not change or waver, and efforts must be made to ensure the principle is comprehensively and correctly followed out in Hong Kong without any distortion. In the past year, Leung and the Hong Kong SAR government has carried out the "One Country, Two Systems" principle and the Basic Law, made arduous efforts on advancing the SAR's development of its political system, economy and people's livelihood, and maintained the region's overall stability, Xi said. The central government "fully endorses the work of Leung and the SAR government," he said. At present, seeking development, maintaining stability and promoting harmony are the common aspirations of the Hong Kong citizens and the SAR's main tasks, Xi said.
The president expressed his hope that the SAR government could unite all circles in Hong Kong to maintain social and political stability in the region. The SAR should seize the opportunity of the formulation of the nation's 13th Five-Year Plan to develop its economy and improve people's livelihood so as to lay a solid foundation for the successful implementation of the "One Country, Two Systems" principle and Hong Kong's long-term development, Xi said.
He extended his new year greetings to all Hong Kong citizens. Top legislator Zhang Dejiang also attended the meeting.
In a separate meeting with Leung on Wednesday, Premier Li Keqiang pledged continued support to the HKSAR government. Efforts should be made to maintain the stability of Hong Kong's economic and financial systems, guard against systematic risks so as to preserve and enhance the SAR's status as an important international financial hub, trade and navigation center, Li said.
The premier asked the SAR government to incorporate Hong Kong's development with the national development strategy. The central government will take full consideration of Hong Kong's role and need when it is setting down related strategies and plans and support the region to play its unique role in the country's economic development and opening up, according to Li.
Leung said the SAR will enhance financial and sci-tech cooperation with the inland in the following year, develop together with the country, and seek fresh impetus for Hong Kong's future development.
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