BEIJING - Premier Li Keqiang on Wednesday handed Ho Iat-seng a State Council decree to appoint him as the fifth-term chief executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) when meeting with Ho in the central leadership compound of Zhongnanhai in Beijing.

Li congratulated Ho on his election as the fifth-term chief executive of the Macao SAR.

Since Macao's return to the motherland, the principle of "one country, two systems" and the Basic Law of the Macao SAR have been fully implemented, Li said, noting that Macao has seen rapid economic development and continuously improving living standards, and enjoys social harmony and stability.

"These are results of the joint work of the Macao SAR government and people from all walks of life in Macao led by the previous chief executives, and are also inseparable from the strong support of the central government and the mainland," Li said.

Stressing that this year marks the 20th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland, Li said the central government will continue to fully and faithfully implement the policies of "one country, two systems," "the people of Macao governing Macao" and a high degree of autonomy for the region, and to act in strict compliance with China's Constitution and the Basic Law of the Macao SAR.

Li said he hoped and believed that the chief executive will lead the Macao SAR government and people from all walks of life in Macao to work hard, make good use of the opportunities brought by the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and make new achievements in the practice of "one country, two systems" in Macao.

Ho thanked the central government for his appointment, and said he will remain unswervingly committed to the implementation of the "one country, two systems."

He pledged to make every effort to improve people's wellbeing, be actively involved in the building of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and consolidate the good momentum of Macao's development since its return to the motherland.

The decree-bestowing ceremony was chaired by Vice Premier Han Zheng.