Chinese president proud of Macao's achievements, progress

MACAO, Dec. 18 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping said the central government and the Chinese people are proud of the achievements and progress of Macao in the past 20 years.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks after arriving in Macao on Wednesday afternoon.

"It is worthwhile to sum up the experience and characteristics of Macao in faithfully implementing 'one country, two systems'," he said while addressing media at Macao's airport.

"We will join hands to draw the blueprint for Macao's future development," Xi said.

The president is expected to attend a gathering celebrating the 20th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland and the inauguration ceremony of the fifth-term government of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR). He will also inspect the Macao SAR.