Mozambican Prime Minister Pascoal Mocumbi said in Maputo on December 19 that the return of Macao to China is a great victory of China's "One Country, Two Systems" policy.

The prime minister made the remarks at a reception hosted by the Chinese Embassy to Mozambique to celebrate the return of Macao to China.

"One Country, Two Systems" policy was first successfully applied in Hong Kong in 1997 and it will certainly be applicable for Taiwan, Mocumbi noted.

On behalf of the Mozambican government, the prime minister came to the Chinese embassy to watch the live broadcast of Macao handover ceremony. Mocumbi said that he was as happy as the Chinese people.

From December 20, China officially resumes the excercise of sovereignty of Macao after more than 150 years of the Portuguese colonial rule.

Mocumbi said that China and Portugal have set up a good example for the world by resolving the issue of Macao through negotiations. And he hoped that the friendship and cooperation between the governments and peoples of the two countries will be further strengthened.

At the same function, Chinese Ambassador to Maputo Shao Guanfu said the the return of Macao to the motherland is another step forward towards the full reunification of China.

Some 200 people including Mozambican officials, diplomats and representatives of the Chinese living in the southern African country, attended the celebration.