Chinese president calls for sustained, healthy economic development in Macao

President Hu Jintao Monday urged the Macao government to concentrate resources on promoting a "sustained and healthy economic development" in the special administrative region (SAR).

Hu made the appeal while attending a celebration gathering marking the 5th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland and the inauguration of the second-term government of the Macao SAR.

He said development is of overriding importance and Macao's economy has been booming in recent years.

"But some of the long-standing and underlying problems still linger," Hu said. "We should consider matters carefully before making decisions, consolidate existing advantages while nurturing new areas of economic growth to make development more sustainable."

He suggested that management of the gaming industry be further strengthened and improved and that at the same time efforts be made to promote tourism and other related sectors.

"Macao should take advantage of CEPA (Closer Economic Partnership Agreement) to strengthen cooperation with the mainland, the Pearl River Delta region in particular, for greater effectiveness of the cooperation schemes," he said.

Economic ties between Macao and the international market should also be expanded to broaden the horizon for development, he added.