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Vice-President Xi calls to maintain Macao's prosperity

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-05-13 13:53

BEIJING -- Chinese Vice-President Xi Jinping has called on the Macao Chamber of Commerce to contribute more to the economic development and stability of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR).

Xi, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, made the remarks on Wednesday when meeting with a visiting delegation headed by Ma Iao Lai, President of the Macao Chamber of Commerce.

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He said the central government laid out a chapter about Hong Kong and Macao in the 12th Five-Year Plan, a blueprint for China's national economic and social development in the next five years.

The chapter set a new goal for Macao's social and economic development: to turn Macao into a global tourism and leisure center while simultaneously diversifying its economic mix.

The plan clarified the status and role of Hong Kong and Macao in terms of overall national development and gave more detailed explanations about supporting policies and measures for the development of the two regions, Xi said.

Xi acknowledged the contributions that the Macao Chamber of Commerce has made to the region's smooth return to the motherland, and encouraged it to continue to implement the "one country, two systems" policy and the Basic Law of the Macao SAR.

He also urged the chamber to seize opportunities and play to Macao's advantages so as to contribute to the country's sound and fast development as well as Macao's prosperity and stability.

Additionally, Xi expressed hopes for the chamber to help train more young talents and offer better services to its members.