Xi expresses expectations for new Macao SAR government

MACAO -- President Xi Jinping on Friday expressed expectations for the newly inaugurated government of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR).

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, called on the new SAR government to promote the appropriate diversification of the local economy, improve governance efficiency, build a platform for higher-level opening up, and safeguard social harmony and stability.

He made the remarks at a gathering here celebrating the 25th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland and the inaugural ceremony of the sixth-term government of the Macao SAR.

In terms of economic diversification, Xi urged promoting high-level economic synergy and deep alignment of regulations between the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin and Macao, and enabling efficient and smooth cross-border flow of various factors between them.

Xi said it is important to note that the central authorities' decision to develop Hengqin is aimed at promoting the appropriate diversification of Macao's economy and facilitating the life and employment of Macao residents.

This positioning must be upheld and industrial projects inconsistent with this positioning should not be developed, he said.