Visiting Chinese Vice-President Zeng Qinghong commended Friday the achievements made by the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) government in maintaining stability and scoring a fast economic growth.

The vice-president, who came to attend the signing ceremony of the Mainland/Macao Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA), said that the success of "Macao people governing Macao" achieved by Macao over the past four years gives inspirations to people in furthering the implementation of the principle of "one country, two systems."

Vice-President Zeng made the remarks at a banquet hosted by the SAR government to celebrate the signing of the Mainland/Macao CEPA.

He said that the central government has always attached an equal importance to Hong Kong and Macao, and will continue to give its utmost support to the two SARs in the matters, which conform to the principle of "one country, two systems" and are on the basis of mutual benefit.

"The practice of 'one country, two systems' in Macao over the past four years has proved the strong vitality of the principle, which tallies with the practical conditions in Macao," said Zeng, who is on his first visit to the SAR in his capacity as vice-president.

Edmund Ho Hau Wah, chief executive of the Macao SAR government, welcomed Zeng's visit, and thanked the central government for its strong support to the SAR's development.

He said that the trade deal of CEPA signed with the mainland will have a far-reaching significance in Macao's long-term development. It created a new horizon to optimize Macao's economic structure, he added.

(Xinhua News Agency October 18, 2003)