MACAO, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping mapped out a direction for Macao to overcome the current financial crisis and push for future development during his visit to the special administrative region (SAR) here Saturday.

Delivering a keynote speech at a welcoming banquet at the Macao SAR Government Headquarters, Xi said the purpose of his visit to Macao is to inspire local people to tide over the current global financial crisis.

Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping delivers a speech at the welcoming banquet held by the government of Macao Special Administrative Region in Macao, south China, Jan. 10, 2009. Xi Jinping arrived in Macao on Saturday for a two-day inspection tour. (Xinhua/Ma Zhancheng) Photo Gallery>>>

The central government pays great attention to the crisis' impact on the SAR, and will render full support to Macao, he said.

Xi, who started the two-day inspection of Macao on Saturday morning, extended greetings and best wishes to all Macao citizens on behalf of President Hu Jintao and the central government.

"We must enhance our confidence and be not afraid of the current difficulty," Xi said, "I'm sure Macao will successfully tide over this wave on consolidated foundation."

He said the Macao SAR government should take further economic stimulus measures to stabilize the financial sector, assist enterprises, expand the job market and strive for new growth areas of the economy.

Xi said that to achieve an all-round, coordinated and sustainable economic growth, Macao should take a path of diversified development appropriately.

He called on the Macao society to maintain social harmony and stability amid the global financial crisis to ensure the economic development and a happy life for the people.

Xi said Macao has achieved economic development and improvement of the livelihood and social stability under the leadership of Macao SAR Chief Executive Edmund Ho Hau Wah and the SAR government since its return to the motherland.

He noted that new progress had been achieved in Macao in 2008 when the Macao SAR properly handled the constitutional development and took effective measures to cope with the impact of global financial crisis.

"All the facts have proved the correctness of the principle of 'One Country, Two Systems', 'Macao people administering Macao' with a high degree of autonomy," Xi said, adding: "Macao people are fully capable of administering and building Macao."

Chinese vice president urges Macao to diversify its economy

Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping (R, front) meets with Macao SAR Chief Executive Ho Hau Wah in Macao, south China, Jan. 10, 2009.(Xinhua/Ma Zhancheng) Photo Gallery>>>

MACAO, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping Saturday said here that Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) should promote its long-term economic diversification.

Xi, who paid the first official visit to Macao since assuming the office of Chinese Vice President in March 2008, made the remark when meeting with the SAR's Chief Executive Ho Hau Wah and 113 representatives from all walks of the local society in the Macao East Asian Games Dome. Full story

Chinese Vice President meets with Macao Chief Executive

MACAO, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping met with Ho Hau Wah, Chief Executive of Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) here Saturday.

It was his third visit to Macao since the SAR returned to the motherland, Xi said, and he had a deep impression every time on the city's profound changes and development.

Chinese VP Xi in Macao for inspection tour

MACAO, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping arrived in Macao via the Gongbei cross-boundary checkpoint, which connects Macao with neighboring Chinese mainland city Zhuhai, Saturday morning, kicking off a two-day inspection tour of the Special Administrative Region (SAR).

It was Xi's first visit to Macao since he assumed the office of the Chinese vice president in March 2008.

[1] [2] [3] [4] [5]

Source: Xinhua