President Hu meets Hong Kong SAR chief

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-11-23 09:18

LIMA - Chinese President Hu Jintao met on Saturday with Donald Tsang, chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) of China.

China's President Hu Jintao (L) and Hong Kong's Chief Executive Donald Tsang wave as they depart Peru's Defense Ministry headquarters after the first day of the 16th summit of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation, APEC, in Lima, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2008.[Agencies]

President Hu said China went through a lot of big events and difficulties this year, in which Hong Kong compatriots always stood together and shared weal and woe with the people on the mainland.

Hu spoke highly of the disaster-relief efforts provided by the Hong Kong SAR government and people after the May. 12 earthquake to southwest China's Sichuan Province, saying that they had made contributions to the success of China's quake-relief work.

The president said Hong Kong has also successfully completed the task of co-organizing the equestrian competition event of the 2008 Beijing Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The central government would always support Hong Kong and Macao SAR in coping with and overcoming various difficulties, President Hu told the Hong Kong chief.

Hu said the central government would take effective measures to help the HKSAR government to ward off the impact of the global financial crisis, safeguard the stability of financial markets and boost economic growth.

Hu expressed his belief that as long as the HKSAR government and people from all circles could be united, the region would maintain its long-term prosperity and stability.

Donald Tsang briefed the president on his government's efforts in dealing with the current financial crisis and voiced his appreciation for the central government's support to Hong Kong.

The HKSAR government would continue to make efforts to safeguard the financial and economic stability in the region, the Hong Kong chief said.

Both Hu and Tsang are in the Peruvian capital of Lima to attend the 16th Economic Leaders' Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC).