Chinese Premier Li Keqiang Wednesday granted the official certificate to Ho Iat Seng, who will take office as the fifth-term chief executive of Macao Special Administrative Region on December 20, the date that marks the 20th anniversary of Macao's return to China. 

Li first congratulated Ho on his election win and said since Macao's return to Chinese mainland, the "One Country, Two Systems" policy and the Basic Law have been fully implemented, the economy has been boosted, people's livelihood has been improved, and all causes have seen remarkable progress. 

It's the result of joint efforts by the SAR government and all sectors in society under the guidance of all the chief executives, and the support of the central government and the Chinese mainland. 

Li stressed that central authorities will continue to implement the Basic Law and the principle of "One Country, Two Systems," under which Macao is governed and the SAR enjoys a high degree of autonomy. 

Li said he hopes the new chief executive can lead Macao to seize the opportunity brought by the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and push forward the diversified development of Macao. 

Ho thanked the central government for the appointment and said will firmly implement the "One Country, Two Systems" policy and actively participate in the construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and live up to the expectation of the central government and the Macao people. 

Ho was elected Macao's chief executive-designate on August 25.   

Born in Macao in 1957, Ho served as a member of the Executive Council of the Macao SAR from 2004 to 2009. In October 2013, he was elected president of the Legislative Assembly of the Macao SAR and was re-elected in October 2017.