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.

He affirmed that the Macao SAR has constantly improved its governance system and capability since its return to the motherland, noting that the constitutional order of the Macao SAR as prescribed by the Constitution and the Basic Law is respected and upheld.

"We are glad to see that the principles of 'one country, two systems', 'Macao people administering Macao', and a high degree of autonomy as well as the Basic Law of the Macao SAR have won massive support from the people in Macao and have been implemented in real earnest," he said.

The president 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.

"The course of human progress shows that law-based governance is the most reliable and stable way of governance," he said.

Xi also underlined the importance of providing a strong backing of human resources for the law-based governance in Macao, saying 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.

Xi's remarks came at a time when China is working toward building a country governed by the rule of law.

Chui Sai On, the new-term chief executive of the Macao SAR, pledged after he was sworn in Saturday morning that the SAR government will put more efforts in perfecting the government official accountability system and promoting legal system development and anti-corruption.

The new-term SAR government is committed to "fully, comprehensively and correctly understanding and implementing the Basic Law," Chui said.