Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (C) waves to the crowd during his visit to the Ruins of St.Paul's in Macao, south China, Nov. 14, 2010. (Xinhua/Chen Duo)
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said in Macao on Sunday that appropriate diversity should be promoted in economic development in the Macao Special Administrative Region ( SAR).
Wen made the remarks while addressing the public Sunday afternoon on his second-day visit in Macao.
Wen said the central government will continue to unswervingly implement the principles of "one country, two systems," "Macao people governing Macao" with a high degree of autonomy and the Basic Law, and give full support to the chief executive and the government of Macao SAR in boosting development in Macao.
Wen said the SAR should work to develop modern service industries, including tourism, exhibition, finance and cultural creativity, make sure gaming industry develop in an appropriate and orderly way, and strive to build up Macao as the world tourism and leisure center.
In the first 10 months this year, gross revenue from gaming industry in Macao surged 58.8 percent year on year to 152 billion patacas (about 19.24 billion U.S. dollars). The total gross revenue of the gaming industry reached 120.3 billion patacas in 2009.
In his speech, Wen also asked Macao to make full use of favorable policies provided by the central government, strengthen cooperation with Chinese mainland, especially with Guangdong province, foster new competitive industries and economic growth points, and fortify its risk-resisting ability.
To enhance people's living standards, the Macao government should put more public expenditure on livelihood field, speed up public house construction, and care for vulnerable groups, Wen added.
Starting his first official visit to Macao Saturday morning, Wen attended the opening ceremony of the third Ministerial Conference of the Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-Speaking Countries, held from Nov. 13-14, and delivered a keynote speech.
During his Sunday's inspection, Wen visited local community service center, hospital and factory after a tour to landmarks of the Ruins of St. Paul's, and Monte Fort.
To have close contact with Macao citizens, Wen played Taiji with local people for morning exercise and dropped by at a local home in the afternoon.
Wen left Macao on Sunday evening.
