Jiang Leaves Macao After Anniversary Celebrations

Jiang Leaves Macao After Anniversary Celebrations

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Chinese President Jiang Zemin and his wife Wang Yeping left Macao by special plane December 21 afternoon after attending the celebrations of the first anniversary of the establishment of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR).

Jiang, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), flew to Macao from Beijing Tuesday afternoon for the anniversary celebration.

Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice-Premier Qian Qichen and his wife Zhou Hanqiong, Member of the CMC and Director of the General Political Department of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Yu Yongbo, Director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee Wang Gang, and Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council Liao Hui, left aboard the same plane.

Jiang and his entourage were seen off at the airport by Vice- Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Ma Man Kei, Macao SAR Chief Executive Edmund Ho Hau Wah and his wife Tatiana Lau, and other principal officials of the Macao SAR government.

During his stay in Macao, Jiang attended and addressed a grand gathering marking the SAR's first founding anniversary, visited some places of historic interest, and met some local celebrities, representatives of the central government organs in Macao, and officers of the PLA Garrison Troops in Macao.

Among those who also saw Jiang off at the airport were Director of the Liaison Office of the Central Government in Macao Wang Qiren, Special Commissioner of the Foreign Ministry Yuan Tao, and Commander of the PLA Garrison Troops in Macao Liu Yuejun.

Jiang's Macao tour has become a hot topic for local residents and hit headlines of all local newspapers. A strong festive flavor fell in Macao where large red lanterns and banners with warm welcoming words for Jiang were seen in downtown areas.

Macao returned to the motherland on December 20, 1999, following Hong Kong, which became the country's first SAR on July 1, 1997. Jiang attended the handover ceremonies in the two Chinese territories, respectively, and announced the establishment of the SARs, putting an end to the centuries-long history of humiliation to the Chinese people.