Premier Li Keqiang met with Ho Iat Seng, chief executive of Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) on Jan 27 via video link in Beijing, hearing his report on the Macao SAR government's work in 2020 and the current situation.

Vice-Premier Han Zheng also attended the meeting.

Last year, the COVID-19 epidemic brought unprecedented impact to Macao’s social and economic development, Premier Li said.

Facing the impact, Macao SAR government has taken a slew of effective measures to stabilize the economy, secure employment and relieve people’s difficulties. It pushed forward moderate and diversified economic development in a timely manner while controlling the epidemic, and accelerated Macao-Guangdong cooperation projects, he added.

The central government fully affirms the work of the Macao SAR government and Ho, Premier Li said.

The central government remains a stickler for the "one country, two systems" policy and supports the Macao SAR government’s law-based administrative work, the Premier said.

He expressed the hope that Macao SAR government can continue its work in epidemic prevention, economic stabilization and improvement of people’s livelihoods, and unswervingly push forward moderate and diversified economic development with its role in linking the mainland and overseas to better integrate into the national development strategy, Premier Li said.

Ho said 2020 was an arduous and unusual year, and COVID-19 has had a huge impact on Macao’s economy.

With support from the central government, Macao has taken a series of epidemic prevention measures to maintain stable development of the region’s economy and society, he said.

In the new year, the SAR government will continue its epidemic prevention work, link with the national development strategy in an active way, accelerate economic recovery, and make efforts to pioneer a new prospect for Macao.

State Councilor Xiao Jie and Vice-Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Xia Baolong, who is head of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, also attended the meeting.