The Sino-US agreement signed on November 15 has drawn the attention of people in Macao, who think China's entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO) will also benefit Macao which will become a special administrative region ( SAR) of China on December 20 this year.

Edmund Ho Hau Wah, chief executive-designate of the Macao SAR, said on Tuesday, "The SAR government will pay close attention to the market situation of the motherland and work out corresponding policies, so that Macao can achieve better economic growth."

Local economists noted that China's entry into the WTO will pose both opportunity and challenge to Macao. Business people in Macao have to do their utmost to seize the opportunity.

On one hand, Macao's role as a middleman between China and foreign investors will become more important as Macao has close ties with the interior areas of China. On the other hand, Macao business people will find more competitors while investing in the interior areas of China.

Local newspapers said that China's entry into the WTO will make the country open wider to the outside world and raise the confidence of investors. A stronger motherland will bring about favorable benefits to Macao.