The Premier of the State Council, Mr Wen Jiabao, said this afternoon he hoped the Macao Government would enhance governance, foster industrial diversification, improve people’s well-being, and safeguard social stability. Beginning an address to a gathering of representatives of the local community, Mr Wen said he was very excited on his first trip to Macao and it felt like coming home after a long time away. Macao holds an important place in the hearts of Chinese people and has played a special role in the historical development of China, said the Premier. He said the destinies of the Mainland and Macao were closely intertwined, as evidenced by history. Speaking of Macao’s achievements since its return to China, the Premier noted that the region’s progress was another testament to the success of the principle of “one country, two systems” and demonstrated Macao people’s ability to manage their city. Mr Wen also emphasised the Central Government’s support for Macao’s long-term development. The 11th and 12th national five-year plans have covered co-operation between Macao and the Mainland, opening more opportunities for Macao’s growth. Looking ahead, the Premier put forward four priorities for Macao. They are: - Enhancing governance by keeping abreast of public opinion and social issues; upholding the rule of law; introducing public oversight; and striving for integrity and efficiency. - Fostering industrial diversification by driving the growth in tourism, conventions, finance and cultural industries; regulating the development of the gaming industry; strengthening co-operation with the Mainland, especially with Guangdong; and devoting more resources to the development of education, technology and culture. - Improving the people’s well-being by spending more public money on items related to people’s livelihood; speeding up the construction of public housing; improving the living environment; and enhancing social justice. - Safeguard social stability by promoting a tolerant and inclusive society. After his speech, Mr Wen responded to several questions from the audience. In his answers, he highlighted the significance of education in promoting economic and social development. He said he believed that education was the bedrock of a strong nation as it was the source of both hard and soft power of a country. When asked about the introduction of another round of quantitative easing by the United States of America, the Premier re-iterated that a stable exchange rate for the RMB is conducive to the stability of the global financial market. As a major reserve currency, the US dollar should maintain a relatively stable exchange rate, said Mr Wen. He added that Macao’s financial system would remain stable as long as the financial sectors in Hong Kong and the Mainland were stable. More than 400 representatives from different sectors of Macao attended the meeting.
