Vice-Premier Wu Yi affirmed yesterday that the central government attaches great importance to the stability and development of Hong Kong and Macau and would create favorable conditions for the two regions to establish a Close Economic Partnership Arrangement with the main-land on an equal footing.

Wu made the remark in separate meetings with Hong Kong Chief Executive Tung Chee Hwa and Macau Chief Executive Ho Hau Wah, who headed delegations to attend the Seventh China International Fair for Investment and Trade which begins today in Xiamen of east China's Fujian Province.

Wu said that the central government would firmly back the efforts made by the Hong Kong government under Tung's leadership to boost Hong Kong's economic development and safeguard the region's stability.

The mainland has strong interactive economic and trade ties with Hong Kong, Wu said, adding that the central government is sparing no efforts to push forward the smooth imple-mentation of the CEPA.

Wu also spoke highly of Macau's development. She said the consultations for Macau to establish a CEPA with the mainland were "proceeding smoothly.''

Both tung and Ho expressed confidence in further promoting Hong Kong and Macau's economic prosperity and safeguarding the local social stability.

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