MACAO, Dec. 20 -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday called for vigorous efforts to enhance the ability and quality of law-based governance of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR).

The evolving situation and people's expectations have raised "new and higher demands for the governance of the SAR", Xi said at a celebration gathering marking the 15th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland.

Xi said particular attention should be paid to improving the institutions and legal systems designed to support the implementation of the Basic Law of the Macao SAR, so as to lay a solid institutional foundation for the governance of Macao in accordance with the law.

The president also called for efforts to make good use of law-based thinking and approach in governance and the need to increase public awareness of the rule of law.

Xi underlined the importance of providing a strong backing of human resources for the law-based governance in Macao, urging it is necessary to build a diligent, clean, efficient and fair government under the rule of law.

Efforts should be made to improve the public officials' duty-performing abilities and train a large number of professionals who are familiar with the Basic Law and possess strong legal expertise, he added.