A seminar marking the nine-day countdown to Macao's return to the motherland was held in Beijing on December 11 with more than 60 overseas Chinese and Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan compatriots participating.

The speakers at the seminar warmly welcomed Macao's return and said they were confident the region would have a bright future.

Some participants made a special trip from Macao to attend the seminar and explain the preparation for celebration activities in Macao.

Everyone at the meeting agreed that Macao will flourish economically as it has made great achievements and earned a good reputation in international trade circles. Macao's return also will help boost the motherland's economic development in the new century.

They also noted that the return of Macao again indicates a success of the principle of "one country, two systems", and the Chinese government will also successfully realize the country's unification.

They said that Macao's return shows that China is becoming ever stronger and it will create an opportunity for China to have closer contact with Taiwan, especially in the fields of finance, information technology, tourism and high technology.

The seminar was jointly sponsored by the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the Beijing municipal government and the committee of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan affairs of the Beijing Municipal Committee of the People's Political Consultative Conference.