Chinese President Xi Jinping waves to people at the airport in Macao, south China, on Dec. 20, 2014. Xi ended his two-day visit to Macao on Saturday after attending celebrations marking the 15th anniversary of Macao's return to China and the inauguration of the fourth-term government of the Macao Special Administrative Region. (Xinhua/Li Tao)
MACAO, Dec. 20 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping wrapped up his visit to Macao Saturday afternoon after attending celebrations for the 15th anniversary of Macao's return to China and inaugurating its fourth-term government, among other activities on his tight itinerary.
The president hailed the successful implementation in Macao of the principle of "one country, two systems," a basic state policy vital to ensuring the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and Macao, as well as the progress Macao has made since its return 15 years ago.
Addressing the anniversary ceremony, Xi also administered the swearing-in of Chui Sai On as the fourth-term chief executive and the new government of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR).
The president called on the Macao people to keep making contribution to the reform, opening-up and modernization drive of China while sharing the opportunities and benefits brought by China's development.
"I am convinced that a more prosperous and stronger motherland will open up even brighter prospects of the development of Hong Kong and Macao," he said.
Chui, 57, vowed in his inaugural address that he would fully and correctly implement the "one country, two systems" policy and spare no effort for an appropriate diversification of Macao's economy.
Xi, also general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and chairman of the Central Military Commission, inspected the Chinese People's Liberation Army's Macao Garrison on Saturday, the second day of his Macao trip.
