The Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) should hold on to innovation to promote sound and sustainable economic development, said Chinese President Xi Jinping during the ceremony marking the 20th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland on Friday.

The SAR should make greater efforts to coordinate its regional planning in accordance with its position of "one center, one platform and one base," namely a world center of tourism and leisure, an economic and trade cooperation platform for China and Portuguese-speaking countries as well as a cultural exchange and cooperation base, said Xi.

Xi also said Macao should identify its main task and related major projects based on its reality to promote moderate economic diversification and take combined measures in terms of policy, manpower, materials and financial resources. It should also actively align itself with the national strategy and seize the opportunities from the Belt and Road Initiative and the Greater Bay Area to bring its advantages fully into play.

Currently, Zhuhai and Macao should join hands to promote the development of Hengqin New Area, injecting fresh impetus to the long-term development of Macao, Xi added.