The Chinese and Portuguese chief representatives of the Sino-Portuguese Joint Liaison Group (JLG) held a farewell party on the afternoon of December 23 with about 200 guests.

Summing up the work of the Sino-Portuguese JLG over the past 12 years, both Chinese chief representative Han Zhaokang and his Portuguese counterpart Santana Carlos said that the group has witnessed fine Chinese and Portuguese cooperation to ensure the steady transition of Macao and smooth power transfer.

The two officials noted that although the concrete work of the liaison group had been completed, they would continue to pay attention to the development and progress of Macao in the future.

They expressed the belief that the friendship and cooperation between China and Portugal will be deepened and the Macao Special Administrative Region will have a brighter future.

The JLG is scheduled to end all its work on January 1 of 2000.