Hu Jintao on Thursday said the principle of "one country, two systems," under which Hong Kong and Macao enjoy a high degree of autonomy, must be implemented fully and faithfully.

"We must both adhere to the one-China principle and respect the differences of the two systems, both uphold the power of the central government and ensure a high degree of autonomy in the special administrative regions, both give play to the role of the mainland as the staunch supporter of Hong Kong and Macao and increase their competitiveness," Hu said when addressing the opening of the CPC's 18th National Cognress.

"At no time should we focus only on one side to the neglect of the other," he said.

Since their return to the motherland, Hong Kong and Macao have embarked on a broad road along which they and the mainland draw on each other's strengths and pursue common development, and the success of the "one country, two systems" principle has won global recognition, Hu said.

The underlying goal of the principles and policies adopted by the central government concerning Hong Kong and Macao is to uphold China's sovereignty, security and development interests and maintain long-term prosperity and stability of the two regions, he said.

Hu said the central government will act in strict accordance with the basic laws of the special administrative regions, improve work mechanisms for their enforcement, and firmly support the chief executives and governments of the two special administrative regions in governing the two regions in accordance with the law.

The central government will firmly support them in leading the people from all walks of life in focusing on economic development, taking effective steps to improve the people's wellbeing, and advancing orderly and phased-in democracy as well as inclusiveness, mutual support and harmony, he said.

The central government will increase economic ties and trade between the mainland and the two regions, and promote exchanges and cooperation between them in all fields, he said.

The central government will also firmly support the chief executives and governments of the two special administrative regions in promoting the unity Hong Kong and Macao compatriots under the banner of loving both the motherland and their respective regions and in guarding against and forestalling external intervention in the affairs of Hong Kong and Macao, he said.

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