Premier pledges continued support to Macau

The secretary Lionel Leong introduced Li to Macau’s development goals.

The second-ranked member of the Politburo Standing Committee, and the Premier of China arrived yesterday to Macau on a special flight around 11 a.m. Li Keqiang is visiting the territory to attend the opening ceremony of the fifth Ministerial Conference of the Forum of Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-Speaking Countries.
The Chief Executive (CE) Chui Sai On greeted Li inside his aircraft. Upon his arrival, Li received bouquets of flowers from two primary school students, and proceeded to congratulate the principal officials of the SAR government who were waiting for him. The arrival of the Prime Minister was also welcomed by 200 primary school students holding the national and regional flags and silk flowers. The Public Security Police Force (PSP) band performed live during Li’s arrival.
The former CE Edmund Ho, the president of the Legislative Assembly Ho Iat Seng, in addition to several secretaries,, also welcomed Li  at the airport.
When speaking to the media at the airport parking apron, Li announced that the central government will continue to support Macau in the implementation of the “One Center, One Platform” paradigm, and he promised the future announcement of a series of supporting measures to achieve this goal.
This marks the first visit of Li to Macau. He said that the visit is an opportunity to meet with local compatriots, and he declared to be happy when he left the plane and saw the children’ smiles, which represent the hope and the future of Macau. Grasping the opportunity, Li invited the media to convey on  behalf of the Central Government, sincere greetings and good wishes to local compatriots.
Li  recalled that at the time of the 10th anniversary of Macau’s handover to China, he was in Zhuhai, representing the central government, attending the ceremony of the construction launch of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge.  On that occasion, he went to the bridge in Zhuhai to see Macau.
“Today, I am stepping on the motherland’s treasurable territory, but most noticeable is the fact that [Macau] is the territory which successfully implemented the principle of “One Country, Two Systems,” said Li. “I strongly hope that [I can], in Macau, see more, walk more and listen more, and experience Macau’s change, local traditions, and the daily life of Macau compatriots.”
At the end of Li’s speech, he noted that, besides participating in the Ministerial Conference, he will also have meetings with various sectors of the society to show the world, as well as to Macau residents, that the central government will continue to support Macau.
Later, Li g visited the Macau Tower, around 3 p.m., right after his meeting with Chui. During the visit, the Secretary for Economy and Finance, Lionel Leong, introduced Li to Macau’s recent economic development as well as to the territory’s development goals. Julie Zhu

Transportation schedules change during visit

Seven buses are changing their schedules and eight roads have been temporarily closed starting from yesterday until Wednesday. This coincides with Prime Minister Li Keqiang’s visit to the city, surrounded by heavy security measures. The Transport Bureau announced that since the fifth Ministerial Conference of the Forum of Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Forum Macau) commenced, six roads in Taipa and Cotai are being partially closed from 8 a.m. on Monday to 6 p.m. on Wednesday. In addition, two roads were closed from 9 a.m. yesterday until 12a.m. on Wednesday. On three of the aforementioned set of roads, parking is also forbidden.