BEIJING — China’s 13th Five-Year Plan, to be reviewed at the upcoming parliamentary session, will be “good news” to Hong Kong and Macao, a spokesperson with the national political advisory body said on March 2.

The leadership has placed great importance to and high expectation on the role of Hong Kong and Macao while planning comprehensive development of China, Wang Guoqing, spokesperson for the annual session of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, said at a press conference ahead of the session.

Wang assured that the national plan for the years between 2016 and 2020 will consider the needs of people in Hong Kong and Macao.

The proposal on the 13th Five-Year Plan on national economy and social development put forward last year at a key meeting of the Communist Party of China Central Committee made clear that Hong Kong and Macao should play unique roles in economic growth and opening up of the whole country, he said.

The central government will support the two special administrative regions as always to sharpen their competitiveness, he said.

He advised that Hong Kong and Macao integrate their own strategies for development into the national plan.