President Xi Jinping will arrive in Macau today for a two-day inspection tour.
Officials involved in preparing the visit said yesterday that the city was “ready to welcome” the president and his delegation.
According to information provided by the Macau Government Information Bureau (GCS) and informed sources, Xi will arrive in the late morning after which he will meet Chief Executive Fernando Chui Sai On, other senior government officials and community leaders.
Xi will attend a welcoming banquet hosted in his honour in the evening at Macau Dome where he will attend a variety show at night.
The show is themed “Dream of Macau, Heart of China,” according to a GCS statement.
Saturday morning, Xi will officiate at the swearing-in ceremony of Macau’s new government and attend a solemn ceremony marking the 15th anniversary of the establishment of the Macau Special Administrative Region (MSAR).
Chui’s second five-year term begins tomorrow. Apart from Chui, his five policy secretaries and several other principal officials will also be sworn in in Xi’s presence.
Saturday afternoon, the president will visit a local neighbourhood before returning to the mainland.
Informed sources said that Xi will deliver an important speech during his visit that will provide “clear guidance” to the local authorities on Macau’s future direction in its social and economic development.
This is Xi’s first visit to Macau as head of state. He visited the city in his then capacity as the nation’s vice-president on January 10-11, 2009, coinciding with the global financial crisis.
At that time, Xi urged the local government to pursue “appropriately diversified” development.
He also called on local society to maintain social harmony and stability. (macaunews/macaupost)
