President Hu arrives in Macao for 10th anniversary celebrations

MACAO, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao arrived in Macao on Saturday at about 12:00 p.m. by special plane to attend the celebrations marking the 10th anniversary of the city's return to the motherland.

Hu, also general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and chairman of the CPC Central Military Commission, will also attend the inauguration of the third-term government of the Macao Special Administrative Region.

Chinese President Hu Jintao(C) delivers a speech upon his arrival at  Macao International Airport in Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR)  in south China Dec. 19, 2009. (Xinhua/Song Zhenping)

This is the second time the president came to Macao. Hu attended the 5th anniversary celebrations in 2004.

Edmund Ho Hau Wah, the SAR chief executive and his wife Taniana Lau went up to the special plane to welcome Hu Jintao and his wife Liu Yongqing.

Chief executive-elect Fernando Chui Sai On and his wife Fok Waifun as well as other senior SAR government officials were also present greeting Hu and his wife Liu Yongqing at the Macao International Airport.

When President Hu and his wife went down the ramp with smiles, the Macao Police Band began to strike up a tune of welcome and two lovely primary school pupils presented bouquets of flowers to them.

Accompanied by Edmund Ho Hau Wah and his wife Tatiana Lau, Hu Jintao and his wife Liu Yongqing shook hands with Macao principal officials and other officials who were present beside the ramp to greet Hu.