Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) shakes hands with Macao
Special Administrative Region Chief Executive Edmund Ho Hau Wah during their
meeting in Macao, south China,yesterday. Hu Jintao arrived here on Sunday for a
two-day visit to attend celebrations marking the fifth anniversary of Macao's
return to the motherland and the inauguration ceremony of the second-term
government of Macao Special Administrative Region.
President Hu Jintao traveled to Macau yesterday to attend today's celebration
marking the fifth anniversary of the region's return to China.
During his visit, Hu will also attend the inauguration of the second-term
government of the Macau Special Administrative Region.
Making his first trip to the SAR, China's leader arrived at 11:30 by special
plane.
Macau Chief Executive Edmund Ho Hau Wah was on hand at the airport to welcome
Hu and his wife, Liu Yongqing.
Hu extended congratulations and greetings to the Macau people on behalf of
the central government and the country's citizens.
He said that since the handover, Macau has achieved great success in
economic, social and other sectors.
The president expressed confidence that Macau's future will be bright as long
as the people continue to make concerted efforts under the leadership of the
Macau SAR government.
During his two-day stay, Hu will meet with principal officials of the Macau
SAR government and leaders from all walks of life and inspect troops of the
Chinese People's Liberation Army Garrison.
The president will also meet with Hong Kong Chief Executive Tung Chee Hwa,
who will attend the celebration activities.
Accompanied by the Macau's chief executive, Hu cut the ribbon to inaugurate
the Sai Van Bridge yesterday afternoon.
As the most-heavily invested public infrastructure project since Macau's
return to China, the 2,200-meter-long bridge took more than two years to build.
It is expected to greatly facilitate the local quality of life and the economy
when it is opened to traffic in January.
Also yesterday, Hu visited a school and met with a local family to learn more
about the lives of ordinary citizens.
