On November 12, 2019, the seminar on external legal affairs in commemoration of the 20th anniversary of Macao's return was held in Macao. The seminar was organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) Government and co-organized by the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China in the Macao SAR. As one of the celebration activities in commemoration of the 20th anniversary of Macao's return, the seminar comprehensively reviewed Macao's successful experience and practices in implementing the "one country, two systems" and the Basic Law in external legal affairs, and planned for the work in the future. Chief Executive of the Macao SAR Fernando Chui Sai On and Commissioner of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China in the Macao SAR Shen Beili delivered speeches at the opening ceremony. More than 400 people were present at the seminar, including Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) Edmund Ho Hau Wah, representatives from the Basic Law Committee of the Macao SAR of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), the Legislative Affairs Commission of the NPC Standing Committee, Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, the Liaison Offices of Central People's Government in the Hong Kong SAR and the Macao SAR, the Offices of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of in the Hong Kong SAR and the Macao SAR and relevant departments of the Hong Kong SAR Government and the Macao SAR Government as well as well-known experts and scholars from the mainland of China, the Hong Kong SAR and the Macao SAR.

Chief Executive Chui Sai On expressed, over the past 2 decades since Macao's return, the Macao SAR Government and the Central People's Government have all along maintained close communication and coordination and carried out external legal affairs in strict compliance with China's Constitution and the Basic Law of the Macao SAR. With the strong support and great help of the Central People's Government, Macao has notably expanded its fields of external exchanges, and participated more in international affairs, thus gaining greater international profile and influence.

Commissioner Shen Beili fully recognized Macao's contributions to safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development interests as well as maintaining the long-term prosperity and stability of the Macao SAR since its return in the field of external legal affairs. She also gave some advice on guaranteeing the success of the work on external legal affairs in the next stage from such perspectives as acting in compliance with the law, improving mechanisms, serving development and making innovations. Shen Beili expressed, the Foreign Ministry will make full use of its strengths in the resources of foreign services, create a sound external environment for the long-term prosperity and stability of the Macao SAR and help the Macao SAR play a greater role in major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics.

Director-General of the Department of Treaty and Law of the Foreign Ministry Jia Guide made a report themed on actively supporting the Macao SAR in building an international legal cooperation network and ensuring the long-term and stable development of the great cause of the "one country, two systems". Having reviewed and summarized the Central People's Government's practice in guiding the Macao SAR in building an international legal cooperation network, Jia Guide expressed, the successful practice owes much to the full and faithful implementation of the "one country, two systems" and the Basic Law, to keeping with the demands of the Macao SAR and to the continuous efforts in promoting innovations in systems and mechanisms. The Central People's Government will further support the Macao SAR in its external exchanges, guarding against external risks and disturbances as well as innovating and improving systems and mechanisms matching the Basic Law.

Three topics including the successful practice of the "one country, two systems" in international law, new development brought by the "one country, two systems" to the practice of international law and giving play to the advantages of the Macao SAR to boost national development were discussed at the seminar. The participants contributed their ideas and suggestions actively in a warm and friendly atmosphere.