BEIJING, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- On the afternoon of Dec. 18, President Xi Jinping met with Ho Iat Seng, chief executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR), who is on a duty visit to Beijing. Xi heard a report from Ho on Macao's current situation and the Macao SAR government's work.
Xi noted that over the past year, under the leadership of Chief Executive Ho, the Macao SAR government has conscientiously performed its duty and made solid progress in its work. The Macao SAR has successfully amended its Law on Safeguarding National Security, and has advanced the amending of its Chief Executive Election Law and the Legislative Assembly Election Law in an orderly manner. Management of the gaming industry has been strengthened, and the first comprehensive and systematic plan for Macao's diversified development in the region's history has been formulated. New progress has been made in promoting the building of the Guangdong-Macao in-depth cooperation zone in Hengqin, and international exchanges and cooperation have been continuously expanded. As a result, Macao's economy has recovered rapidly, and its society has remained harmonious and stable. The central authorities fully recognize the work of Ho and the Macao SAR government, Xi said.
Xi emphasized that we are now advancing the building of a strong country and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on the new journey in the new era through a Chinese path to modernization. The central authorities will, as always, fully, faithfully and firmly implement the "one country, two systems" policy, and fully uphold the principle of "patriots administering Macao." The central authorities will give full support to the chief executive and the Macao SAR government in uniting and leading all sectors of Macao society to continuously promote the successful practice of "one country, two systems" with Macao characteristics by seizing the historical opportunities brought by national development, to welcome the 25th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland with new achievements.
Li Qiang, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Shi Taifeng, Chen Wenqing, Xia Baolong, and others were present at the meeting. ■
