President Xi visits Macao families

MACAO -- Amid warm greetings and laughter, Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday surprised ordinary citizens of Macao who live at a government-funded public housing estate.

Shortly after arriving in the city Friday noon, Xi visited the Seac Pai Van public housing estate on Macao's Coloane Island, the region's largest public housing project for low-income residents, having a chat with them.

The president, who is here to attend celebrations for the 15th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland and the inauguration of a new government of the region, was warmly greeted by Tam Yuk Ngor and her family, who moved in the neighborhood eight months ago.

Asking Tam about the family's income and working conditions, Xi showed special interest to their feeling about the improvement of living conditions.

"How much do you spend on housing?""What do you do for living?" he asked.

The mother of three daughters told the president she works for a construction material company and her husband is a construction worker.

"All our kids are at school. They are all working hard," she said, adding that the family is very satisfied with their new and cozy home.

Xi said he was impressed by the harmonious and loving family for their optimism and diligence for a better life.

"I feel happy for you. I hope you'll work and study hard so you can make contribution to a better future of Macao and our motherland," he said.

The president then visited the home of Leung Chi Kwok, a dock worker. Holding Leung's hand, Xi asked about whether the family has social insurance and how much they spend for daily life.

Praising the family's joyful life, the president also expressed hope that all families in Macao could enjoy a happy and sweet life.

"I'm confident that the new government of the special administrative region (SAR) will continue to enhance administrative abilities and improve people's well-being so that every Macao citizen can share the fruits of the SAR's social and economic development," he told Chief Executive of the Macao SAR Chui Sai On, who accompanied Xi on the trip.

Learning about Xi's visit, neighbors of Tam and Leung in Seac Pai Van came to greet the president. Xi shook hands with them and wished them a better life day by day.

The Seac Pai Van public housing estate, launched in 2011, is composed of six high-rises with 9,015 housing units. About 12,000 people had moved in by the end of September.

Also on Friday afternoon, Peng Liyuan, wife of the president, visited a kindergarten under the Women's General Association of Macao, with the company of Fok Wai Fun, wife of Chief Executive Chui.

Peng listened with interest to kids learning "The Song of the Seven Sons," a famous song telling how Macao people yearned for the return to the motherland.

She also joined the children in group games, helping them with basic arithmetics and watching their physical exercises.

Before waving good-bye, Peng said she welcomed all the children to visit Beijing in future.