MACAO, Dec. 20 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday expressed the hope that the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) government will keep apace with the times and improve governance of the SAR.

He called for steady efforts to improve the set of institutions for the law-based governance of Macao and ensure that the decision making by the government is well-conceived and public services are efficient.

Xi made the remarks while addressing a gathering in celebration of the 20th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland.