Photo: Xinhua

Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived at the Macao International Airport on Wednesday afternoon.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, is expected to attend a gathering celebrating the 20th anniversary of Macao's return to China and the inauguration ceremony of the fifth-term government of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR).

The visit is expected to inject strong confidence for Macao in continuing implementing the "one country, two systems" principle and in diversifying its economy to reduce its dependence on the gaming sector and play a bigger role in connecting China and the West, local business and official representatives said. 

Xi is expected to announce more favorable policies in boosting Macao's financial sector.

"This is a reward for Macao," Susana Chou, former president of the Legislative Assembly of Macao, told the Global Times on Tuesday. 

The festive mood was palpable across the city, as Chinese national flags and banners fluttered in most major streets of Macao ahead of the celebrations. Some local residents who spoke with the Global Times said they feel cheered up as the city is welcoming more new opportunities for future development. 

Global Times