Saturday, November 24, 2007 Issue 177, Page 1 & 3 Word count: 1028 Published in: Macau Daily Times
By Poyi (Natalie) Leung in Beijing
Chinese president Hu Jintao and premier Wen Jiabao both recognised the prosperous development of the Macau SAR and vowed to continue support the Chief Executive in making the city better.
Chief Executive Edmund Ho Hau Wah met with the premier of the People’s Republic of China, Wen Jiabao, at 3.50pm at Ziguangge, Zhongnanhai – Beijing’s central political zone.
Mr Ho later moved to Zhongnanhai’s Conference Room 202 at 5.45pm and met with the Chinese president and chairman, Hu Jintao.
During the closed door meetings, Chief Executive reported to the Chinese leaders his policy blueprint for next year and a summary of what he had done over the past year.
Apart from being received by premier Wen at Ziguangge for the first meeting, government officials were present, including vice premier Wu Yi, state councilor Tang Jiaxuan, state council secretary-general and councilor Hua Jianmin.
Also attending were vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and chief of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office of the State Council, Liao Hui, and director of the Central Government’s Liaison Office in the Macau SAR, Bai Zhijian.
Premier Wen said to Edmund Ho at the beginning of the meeting that he had read his 2008 Policy Address which had concluded the overall development of the SAR during this year.
“It is certain that Macau has obtained great accomplishments in terms of its social and economic development,” premier Wen said.
“The central government acknowledges the effort and would like to give our recognition to the achievements of Macau.”
Wen Jiabao added that during the development progress, some new problems and issues had arisen.
However, he expressed his confidence in Edmund Ho and said: “The central government believes the problems can be solved under the leadership of the SAR government which will continue to advance the economic development and social discipline.”
Chief Executive Edmund Ho Hau Wah, after thanking the premier for the on-going support of the central government, told the conference the latest situation of the SAR.
“As the premier has said before, the current situation in Macau has to be looked at in two different areas,” Mr Ho said.
“First, Macau’s overall development is positive, the economic foundation is solid and the development progress is very fast.
“No doubt a rapid development will lead to a series of problems. But this is comparatively normal. It’s impossible to have no problems caused under a soaring growth,” Mr Ho said, adding that “the key is how to treat these problems in a right way.”
On the other hand, he added, after eight years of administrating the region, the government now had to face more in-depth and complicated problems.
“As the premier has said, in-depth problems are those which are not easy to be solved,” the Chief Executive said.
“However, the conditions required to resolve this kind of problems in Macau have now been improved,” he added.
Following the first meeting with premier Wen Jiabao, Edmund Ho was brought to the other side of Zhongnanhai at Conference Room 202, to attend another meeting with president Hu Jintao starting at 5.45pm.
Member of the Politburo Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China, Xi Jinping, and chief of the central government office, Ling Jihua, were present at the meeting together with Tang Jiaxuan, Liao Hui and Bai Zhijian.
In the past eight years since Macau was returned to China, president Hu said the region’s economy continued to grow and social affairs were always improving.
“The overall development of Macau is great and has an outstanding achievement,” the president said.
“I believe the Macau SAR will continue to devote to its administrative work, carry out policies in line with the law and to lead the Macau citizens to be united so that political measures can be greatly achieved,” he added.
The board of Political Bureau Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China had recently been elected last month.
President Hu said the new leadership would insist on the policy of “One Country, Two Systems”, and the high degree of autonomy, in which Macau will only be governed by Macau people.
“China will continue to support you (Edmund Ho) and the Macau SAR government. We have a strong faith in the future of Macau,” the president added.
As reporters were only allowed to be present at the conferences for the first few minutes, a press conference, chaired by Edmund Ho, was held at the Office of the Macao SAR Government in Beijing in the evening.
The Chief Executive told the press the conversations between premier Wen and president Hu did not mention about the kickback case of Ao Man Long.
He said it was not only because the case was currently on trial, but it had occurred a year ago, adding that “things needed to report were already done in the past.”
Demands from society were different now in an ever-changing society, Edmund Ho said it was always vital for the government to develop the economy by putting the interest of its citizens in a priority according to different time and conditions.
“It was particularly important in improving the aspect of people’s livelihood. Effective measures have to be conducted so that our people can enjoy the benefits brought by the economic growth and the governing ability of the government can be raised in a new era,” Mr Ho said.
Asked if the recent active discussions between lawmakers and secretaries regarding the policy blueprints at the Legislative Assembly had brought out a new problem, Edmund Ho said this situation was considered ordinary when people were free to express their ideas and opinions in an open and fair environment.
“It’s impossible to ask society not to have any opposition voices when Macau is still under the progress of improvement.
“It can also be seen as a way of improvement when demands of the Legislative Assembly and lawmakers have increased,” Edmund Ho said, adding “it’s not a healthy phenomenon when there is no voice and opinion in a society or it may turn to be another in-depth problem and become difficult to resolve in the future.”
The Chief Executive concluded his two-day visit in Beijing yesterday.
