Full text of Xi's remarks at gathering for Macao SAR's 15th anniversary

MACAO -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday delivered a speech at a gathering marking the 15th anniversary of Macao's return to China and the inauguration of the fourth-term government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.[Special coverage]

The following is the full text of his speech:

Remarks by H.E. Xi Jinping

President of the People's Republic of China

At the Gathering Marking the 15th Anniversary

Of Macao's Return to the Motherland and the

Inauguration of the Fourth-term Government of the

Macao Special Administrative Region

20 December 2014

Fellow Compatriots, Dear Friends,

Good morning. Today, we gather here in a joyous mood for this grand occasion to celebrate the 15th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland and to inaugurate the fourth-term government of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR).

First of all, on behalf of the Central Government and people of all ethnic groups across the country, I wish to extend cordial greetings to all the residents in Macao and warm congratulations to Mr. Chui Sai On, the fourth Chief Executive of the Macao SAR, his team and members of the Executive Council who have just been sworn in. I also wish to express my sincere appreciation to all the fellow Chinese both at home and abroad as well as foreign friends who have cared about Macao and contributed to its prosperity and stability.

This occasion reminds us of what happened 15 years ago today. On that day, the Chinese government resumed the exercise of sovereignty over Macao,and the Macao SAR of the People's Republic of China was established. Macao returned to the embrace of the motherland and embarked on a promising path of mutual complementarity and common development with the mainland. That was an event of great historic significance in the development of the Chinese nation and marked a new chapter in Macao's development.

Over the past 15 years, with the strong support of the Central Government and the mainland and under the leadership of the Chief Executive and government of the SAR, people from various sectors in Macao have united as one, made vigorous efforts to implement the principle of "one country, two systems" and achieved fruitful results.