MACAO: Macao Chief Executive Edmund Ho has attributed the "miraculous" economic growth of the special administrative region (SAR) to the "one country, two systems" policy and the economic boom on the Chinese mainland.

During an interview prior to the 10th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland, Ho thanked the central government for its solid backing to the region since Dec 20, 1999, saying such support has helped Macao meet multiple challenges and overcome many difficulties, ranging from the SARS epidemic in 2003 to the current global financial crisis.

Macao's development "has benefited 100 percent from the soaring growth of the motherland" in the past decade, he said, adding the situation would have been completely different if the return had taken place 30 or 40 years ago.