Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said the mainland will give more support to the Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions in order to integrate regional growth into the country's overall development and accelerate the planning and development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area, while stressing the "One Country, Two Systems" principle.
Premier Li made the remarks as he presented the annual government work report to lawmakers at the opening meeting of the second session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC), China's legislature, which will be underway in Beijing from March 5 to 15.
Li reiterated China will continue to adhere to the guidelines of the "Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong" and "Macao people administering Macao," with a high degree of autonomy.
"We will support Hong Kong and Macao in participating in national high-quality economic development and in the new round of high-standard opening up, and strive to see them develop into important regions for China's two-way opening up," Li said.
While stressing the commitments to the two regions, the premier said "we will carry out policies and measures to make it easier for Hong Kong and Macao residents to apply for mainland residence permits and to pursue development on the mainland."
During his presentation, Li also called for expanding cross-Straits exchanges and cooperation, and deepening integrated development between the two sides of the Straits.
While continuing to implement the 31 measures, Li said we will bring forward more policies and measures to benefit our Taiwan compatriots and create conditions for them and their businesses to achieve better development on the mainland.
The 31 measures are designed to boost cross-Straits economic and cultural exchanges and cooperation.
