WELLINGTON, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese Embassy in New Zealand held a reception on Wednesday evening at the National Museum of New Zealand to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland.

Delivering an opening speech at the reception which was attended by over 200 people, Chinese Ambassador Wu Xi said this year marks the 20th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland. In the past two decades, "one country, two systems" and "Macao people governing Macao" have been faithfully and fully implemented since the Chinese government resumed the exercise of sovereignty over Macao.

She noted that Macao's GDP has maintained a track of steady growth, hitting almost 55 billion U.S. dollars in 2018, around eight times the GDP of 1999. The GDP per capita is now 82,000 U.S. dollars, ranking third among world cities according to the International Monetary Fund, and almost five times that of 1999.

The number of visitors to Macao has soared from 7.4 million in 1999 to 35.8 million last year. With the ongoing development of the economy, Macao's employment rate has increased, social harmony and stability have been enhanced, and people's livelihoods have improved greatly. With the strong support of the central government, Macao has also become an active participant in international cooperation.

"As a Special Administrative Region of China, the fate of Macao is closely tied to the whole Chinese nation. The story of Macao's successful development would not be possible without the rapid development of China in the past seven decades," said the ambassador.

Wu said that the strong and prosperous China of today is the driving force behind Macao's development. "The rapid development on the mainland has provided Macao with greater resources and inbound tourists. The Belt and Road Initiative and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area are creating significant new development opportunities for Macao."

She stressed that "one country, two systems" has proven to be the best institutional arrangement for maintaining long-term prosperity and stability in Hong Kong and Macao, the best solution for dealing with the legacy and questions of the past, and the best system for achieving the reunification of China.

Wu said Hong Kong and Macao also play an important part in cooperation between China and New Zealand. "The continued stability and prosperity of Hong Kong and Macao under 'one Country, two Systems' is in the interests of both China and the world, including New Zealand."

"We strongly oppose these moves which complicate China's efforts in counter-terrorism and de-radicalization. All they achieve is the revealing of a U.S. double standard on counter-terrorism, as well as showing the Chinese people the hypocrisy of U.S. intentions," Wu said as she noted the U.S. Congress acts on China's Hong Kong and Xinjiang.

"The China of today has the confidence and ability to eliminate all interference and open new chapters in the success of 'one country, two systems' in Macao and Hong Kong, " said the ambassador.

"We are also fully confident and able to overcome all challenges, whether they seek to undermine the reunification and unity of our nation, or to hamper China's development and progress. The history of China's growing prosperity and the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation are too strong to be stopped by any force," she added.