The photo exhibition "Brilliant Progress", marking the fifth anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland opened in Macao on December 13.

The exhibition was co-organized by the Department of Publicity and Culture of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) and the Macao SAR Branch of Xinhua News Agency.

Kong Fanzhuang, head of the Department of Publicity and Culture of the Liaison Office, said at the opening ceremony of the exhibition that the Macao SAR government, headed by Chief Executive Edmund Ho Hau Wah, and Macao residents have made brilliant achievements in economic and social progress in the pastfive years since 1999 when Macao returned to the motherland.

Kong said the election for the second Chief Executive of the Macao SAR, in which Edmund Ho Hau Wah won 296 out of the 299 ballots, showed that Edmund Ho Hau Wah and his administration have won the approval and confidence of the majority of Macao people in the first term.

He pointed out that the success achieved by the Macao SAR was also attributed to the powerful backup from the motherland.

The most powerful backing is the central government's firm implementation of the principles of "one country, two systems", "Macao people governing Macao" and a high degree of autonomy. During the past five years, the central government has also given much attention and support to the economic development of the SAR, he said.

Meanwhile, Kong expressed appreciation over the assistance given by the Macao SAR government and patriotic people of Macao for the overall building of the motherland, in the fields of education, culture, science and technology, health and sports.

The opening ceremony, presided by Director of the Macao SAR Branch of Xinhua News Agency Pan Guojun, was attended by Chief Executive of the Macao SAR Edmund Ho Hau Wah, Director of the Liaison Office of the Central Government in the Macao SAR Bai Zhijian, President of Xinhua News Agency Tian Congming, Secretary for Administration and Justice of the Macao SAR Florinda Chan, Commissioner of the Foreign Ministry in the Macao SAR Wan Yongxiang, and Political Commissar of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Garrison Troops in the Macao SAR Yang Zhongmin.

Also present at the ceremony were Lau Cheok Va, vice president of the Legislative Assembly of the Macao SAR; Vitor Ng, president of the Macao Foundation; Stanley Ho, general manager of the Macao Gaming Co. Ltd.; Legislator Chui Sai Cheong, representative for the Macao Henry Fok Foundation and Alex Lao, president of the Multinational Travel Holding Group.

The exhibition had previously toured Shanghai, Guangzhou and Beijing before it came to the final stop in Macao.

Source: Xinhua