Sam Hou Fai was elected the chief executive designate of the Macao Special Administrative Region on Sunday.

Pending his appointment by the central authorities, Sam is poised to be the sixth-term chief executive of the SAR. Sam said that his primary goal is to meet residents' expectations for a better life by accelerating the SAR's appropriate economic diversification, as well as better integrating the SAR economy into the overall national development strategy.

The election demonstrated the vitality of Macao's democracy. The election, the first of its kind taking place after the amendments to the Chief Executive Election Law took effect at the beginning of this year, effectively implemented the principle of "patriots administering Macao".

Macao's residents are hopeful that the new leadership team will act decisively and press forward with determination to ensure that the SAR develops in a stable and prosperous manner.

Over the past 25 years, Macao has achieved success in numerous areas, demonstrating impressive economic vitality, social stability, and a strong sense of national identity and belonging.

Once a small town with a sluggish economy and a lack of social security, Macao has emerged as a safe and prosperous metropolis with international acclaim in merely a quarter of a century.

In 2023, Macao's per capita GDP grew by 80.5 percent year-on-year to 559,000 patacas ($70,000), more than four times the figure in 1999 when it returned to the motherland. The unemployment rate has also dropped significantly from 6.3 percent then to 2.7 percent last year.

Macao has drawn upon its unique history to leverage distinctive advantages as a major platform linking China and Portuguese-speaking countries and has actively participated in the Belt and Road Initiative.

The coming five years are a key period for Macao to achieve the goal of diversifying its economy by better integrating into the overall national development plan. To make the most of this period, just as Sam proposed in his election campaign, Macao must be dedicated to seeking innovations and expanding its development space, while consistently adhering to the "one country, two systems" framework.

XINHUA NEWS AGENCY