MACAO, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Macao on Friday noon for celebrations marking the 15th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland.

Xi, also general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and chairman of the Central Military Commission, will also attend the inauguration of the fourth-term government of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) scheduled on Saturday.

Upon arrival at the Macao International Airport, Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan were greeted by Macao SAR Chief Executive Chui Sai On and his wife Fok Wai Fun, and two Macao pupils who presented bouquets to them.

Xi shook hands with Ho Hau Wah, vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and former chief executive of the Macao SAR, who, along with others, was at the airport to welcome the president.

Amid a tune of welcome played by the Macao Police Band, the smiling president waved to hundreds of representatives from various walks of life and school children holding national flags and Macao SAR flags to greet him.

Xi told reporters at the airport that he was delighted to visit Macao again since his last trip to the SAR five years ago.

The president said he was glad to be here "to celebrate with Macao compatriots the festival of great historical significance and convey the good wishes of the central government and all Chinese people to Macao compatriots."

Xi said he was willing to visit local residents, review with them the development of the Macao SAR over the past 15 years and discuss plans for Macao's long-term development.

The president expressed his belief that Macao will progress in a more steady manner on the right track, guided by the "one country, two systems" policy and the Basic Law.

Xi's two-day trip marks the fifth visit to Macao by China's top leader since the country resumed the sovereignty over Macao in 1999. This is also Xi's fifth visit to the south China coastal city neighboring Zhuhai city of Guangdong.

"President Xi is expected to make new proposals to guide the work of the new SAR government, and conduct exchanges with officials and people of all walks of life over the SAR's development," said an editorial of Macao Daily on Friday.

"This will help promote closer cooperation between Macao and the inland, and healthier development of Macao," it said.

The newspaper also reviewed Xi's last visit as vice president in early 2009, during which he endeavored to boost the morale of Macao people at the critical moment of coping with the global financial crisis.

Xi's proposals for Macao's economic diversification and social development during that trip, especially for Macao-Guangdong cooperation in developing Hengqin Island as a new growth point for Macao, already bore fruits over the past five years, the newspaper said.

Macao is now in full swing and a festive atmosphere in celebration of the 15th anniversary, with many Christmas floral decorations and lantern displays dedicated to the theme of the anniversary.

A special flag-raising ceremony will be held at the landmark Lotus Square on Saturday morning. A media center is opened to some 800 journalists who registered to cover the anniversary ceremony and the inauguration of the fourth-term Macao SAR government at the Macao East Asian Games Dome.