President Hu Jintao met with Edmund Ho Hau Wah, chief executive of Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR), on Sunday night.

Hu said that, though his first trip to Macao would be a short one, he has felt the unique charm of the city and the people of Macao’s true love for the motherland and for the SAR.

He said that he was glad to see Macao enjoying harmony and prosperity under Ho’s leadership, and expressed his hope that Ho and the SAR government will continue to lay a solid foundation for long-term stability.

Ho said the Macao government will maintain the "one country, two systems" principle, and strive to promote economic development.

On Sunday the president visited a local school and family to learn about ordinary people's lives in Macao. Earlier that day, he also attended the inauguration of a local bridge and toured several sites of historical interest in the city.

The president had arrived on Sunday morning to celebrate the 5th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland and the inauguration of the second-term government of the SAR.

(Xinhua News Agency December 20, 2004)