Macao's economic development impressive: EU chief

Jose Manuel Barroso, president of the European Union (EU) Commission, told media on Monday that Macao's 28-percent gross domestic product rise in last year is " very impressive."

The EU chief hailed Macao's growing role as "a platform" for the booming cooperation between China and EU.

Barroso reviewed his China tour starting from Beijing on July 14 and termed his meetings with the Chinese leaders as "a pleasure. "

Barroso met with Edmund Ho Hau Wah, chief executive of Macao Special Administrative Region on Monday.

He expressed gratitude to the Macao chief for the invitation and congratulated the latter for the region's recent entry into the World Heritage List.

The former Portuguese prime minister, who arrived here the previous day, visited the local community having Portuguese ancestry Sunday.

He will leave here for Hong Kong later on Monday to continue his five-day China trip, covering cities of Beijing, Shanghai, Macao and Hong Kong.

This is Barroso's first visit to China as president of the EU Commission, the executive arm of the EU.

Source: Xinhua