Legislative leader lauds Macao at start of visit

By Willa Wu in Macao and Luis Liu in Hong Kong | China Daily | Updated: 2017-05-09 07:31 Chairman Zhang Dejiang of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress greets well-wishers with Macao Chief Executive Fernando Chui Sai-on after arriving at Macao International Airport on Monday. Edmond Tang / China Daily Zhang Dejiang vows 'unswerving support' for SAR's development Zhang Dejiang, the nation's top legislator, praised on Monday the "splendid" achievements Macao has made since its return to China in 1999 and pledged the continuation of "unswerving support" from the central government for the economic and social development of the special administrative region. Zhang said he is in Macao to reinforce the central government's steadfast support for the city's economic and social progress, calling on the public to put more effort into advancing development. Zhang cited statistics saying Macao's GDP last year was 5.9 times that recorded in 1999; per capita GDP amounted to $69,000, among the highest in the world, which proved the "One Country, Two Systems" policy was a success in the city and demonstrated the outcome of the SAR government's work.