President Hu Jintao inspects the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Garrison Troops stationed in the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR), Dec. 20, 2004. (Xinhua Photo)

President Hu Jintao inspected here Monday the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Garrison Troops stationed in the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR).

Hu, also general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and chairman of the CPC Central Military Commission, inspected the troops of PLA Macao garrison attheir barracks on the Taipa Island. Hu said in his speech after the inspection that the station of PLA garrison troops in the Macao SAR is symbolic of the resumptionof the Chinese central government's exercise of sovereignty over Macao, conforms to the demands for maintaining national security and safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and serves as a powerful guarantee for Macao's long-term security and stability.

The president spoke highly of the performance of the PLA garrison troops in Macao during the past five years.

Hu urged the garrison troops to continue to respect and supportthe Macao SAR government and the Macao people in accordance with relevant laws and regulations, so as to make new contributions to Macao's stability and prosperity.

During the inspection, Hu was accompanied by Liang Guanglie, member of the Central Military Commission and chief of the GeneralStaff of the PLA.

The garrison troops entered Macao upon its return to the motherland on Dec. 20, 1999.