MACAO -- Macao-born Portuguese and other residents of the Special Administrative Region (SAR) have made important and active contributions to the SAR's prosperity and stability, said visiting Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping here on Sunday.
Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping (3rd R, Front) talks with Macao-born Portuguese during his visit to House Museum in Macao, south China, January 11, 2009 [Xinhua]
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Xi said Macao-born Portuguese, or Macanese, are an important part of the local population, and the Basic Law stipulates that their legitimate rights and interests be guaranteed. The Macanese are an ethnic group which originated in Macao since the 16th century, comprising mostly people with some Portuguese ancestry.
Xi made the remarks when visiting the island city's Taipa Houses-Museum, and met with 24 Macanese representatives.
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Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping (C front) makes a craftwork with an old kai fong (local resident) as he visits the Macao Association of Neighborhood Communities in Macao, south China, January 10, 2009. [Xinhua] |
He also expressed his hope that the Macanese people continue to support the SAR government to govern in line with the Basic Law, and jointly work on developing local society and economy to a higher level.
Leonel Alberto Alves, a Macanese legislator of the SAR's Legislative Assembly, told Xinhua that in the past nine years, the clauses of Basic Law concerning the guarantee of Macanese's legitimate rights and interests were fully implemented in the SAR, which is "an obvious fact that everyone can see".
He said, "Some of the Macanese now work in the SAR government, some work in the judiciary, and some are local politicians. We are part of the Macao people, and there is no prejudice against us."
Xi arrived in Macao on Saturday morning, starting his two-day inspection tour to the island city.
