THE Central Government has decided to demarcate the maritime zones of Macao, President Xi Jinping said during a meeting with the SAR’s Chief Executive Fernando Chui Sai-on on Friday.

    Xi arrived in Macao to celebrate the 15th anniversary of its return to China. He said the region has achieved “obvious” development in all aspects since 1999, thanks to implementation of the “one country, two systems” policy and the Basic Law.

    He also said the Central Government has decided to present two giant pandas to Macao as gifts.

    An academic said the decision will give Macao more choices as it strives to diversify its over-reliance on gaming, with this year set to mark the first yearly decline in gaming revenue at the world’s top gambling destination.

    Davis Fong, an expert on commercial gaming at the University of Macao, said demarcation of territorial waters is “critical” for the city.

    Without this, it is unable to develop water leisure activities, he said. “Cruise tours can set sail from Zhuhai to see Macao at night, but we can’t do the same.”

    Macao may also link future water leisure activities with tourism to Zhuhai’s offshore islands, he said.

    Larry So, a professor at Macao Polytechnic Institute, said the demarcation will make it easier for Macao to handle maritime affairs.

    Addressing the anniversary ceremony Saturday, Xi administered the swearing-in of Chui as the fourth-term chief executive of the SAR and inspected the Chinese People’s Liberation Army’s Macao Garrison.

    The mainland and Macao signed a new trade liberalization deal Thursday to provide easier conditions for Macao’s service providers to set up businesses in Guangdong Province. The agreement will take effect March 1.

    (SD-Xinhua)